Laykold will begin its centenary year as the official court surface of the Abu Dhabi Open, with the 2026 edition of the tournament taking place from January 31 to February 7 on Laykold hard courts.
Founded in the 1920s, Laykold traces its origins to early innovations in cold-pour asphalt technology, which helped establish the modern hard court. Over the past century, the surface has been used by generations of elite players and has been featured at landmark moments in professional tennis, from early U.S. championships to contemporary Grand Slam finals.
Laykold hard courts played a significant role in expanding global access to tennis by offering a lower-cost, lower-maintenance alternative to grass and clay. The consistency and predictability of hard courts also influenced the evolution of playing styles, supporting faster play, broader technical development, and more uniform training conditions worldwide.
Today, Laykold is one of the most widely used professional court surfaces in the sport. In addition to the Abu Dhabi Open, it serves as the official surface for the US Open, Miami Open, BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Wuhan Open, Mexican Open, and numerous ATP, WTA, and ITF events.
With a global installation network and a focus on performance consistency, sustainability, and force-reduction technology, Laykold continues to supply professional-grade courts for tournaments, clubs, schools, and public facilities as it enters its second century in tennis.
