Unlike some other Feddies, I would not call Clay game just a matter of attrition. What differentiates Tennis from say Racquet Ball or Squash is that more thought (I mean mental skill of having a plan) is needed for good point construction. Actually, this skill of point construction becomes more subtle in in Clay court matches. You cannot hit a winner whenever you feel like. You need to have a good strategy to get yourself in a position from which you can hit a winner. In that sense, one could say clay court tests more mental skills than others (although one needs mental skills for other surfaces too).
In other surfaces, the "hand skill" (for lack of better word, but you know what I mean) plays a larger role than in clay, IMHO. Therefore a person with good strokes will do better easily in other courts. Finally, clay requires more running around than other courts and so Stamina plays a larger role as well.
I guess people always think of Rafa's style only when they think of clay (the tiring high rising top spin shots again and again), but there are many other variations possible in good clay court play.
Anyway, I enjoy tennis in all surfaces and in some surfaces, despite "wrong people" winning.
