“It kills our bodies”
Tennis balls cause stars to fear for their health
October 18, 2023, 6:58 p.m
More and more tennis players are complaining about using different balls – and attributing injuries to this. German professionals also criticize. The organizers see top stars on the move. World number one Novak Djokovic is making tough demands on the tour.
The regulations for an official ball in professional tennis are strict. The world association ITF lists permitted dimensions and weight on more than ten DIN A4 pages. Only minimal deviations of 3.4 grams and just under half a centimeter are permitted. And yet the use of balls from different manufacturers in different tournaments is causing more and more anger among the players – even leading to clear accusations and demands against the organizers.
“There is certainly a connection between the recent injuries to the wrist, elbow and shoulder and the frequently changing balls. I am absolutely in favor of selecting a ball that is played with at all ATP tournaments,” said world number one Novak Djokovic the Serbian portal “Sportal”. “I support the players who complain about this and contact the ATP. They must find a solution.”
The players’ union PTPA, which he initiated, is in permanent opposition to the existing professional organization ATP. PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil was also recently angry on social networks: “The balls have gradually become heavier and – surprise – it’s killing our bodies. Almost every player I talk to thinks that way.” The ATP left unanswered a request as to whether there was a dialogue with the professionals on this topic.
Zverev, Fritz, Medvedev, Nadal – everyone is complaining
The tournament organizers are free to choose the brand of ball and are allowed to negotiate individual deals with the manufacturers. At the four Grand Slams alone, balls from three different companies are used. In the preparatory tournaments, however, completely different models can be used. The American professional Taylor Fritz complained at the end of September that he had been struggling with wrist pain since the start of the US tournaments: “We had three different balls in three weeks.”
At the US Open, Alexander Zverev also criticized the fact that the flight behavior of the ball was significantly different from models at other tournaments. “When it gets windy, it’s incredibly difficult to play tennis with this ball,” said the Olympic champion. “I feel like this ball is too light.”
Many professionals also complain that the trend is towards puffy balls. This makes the game slower, the points longer and more entertaining for the spectators – and the rallies more strenuous for the players. “Almost every tennis player says this season that the balls are getting bigger and bigger. That’s not good for the shoulder or the elbow,” complained Russian world number three Daniil Medvedev. Rafael Nadal complained about the ball at the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, saying the quality had “undoubtedly” gotten worse. “After a few hits, the ball loses pressure. It’s harder to hit it with the right spin.”
It’s no different with women
The trouble isn’t just limited to the men’s tour. Last season, female players at the US Open complained that they had to serve with a different version of the ball than the men. That changed this year, but there is no one-size-fits-all model on the women’s tour either. “I think it’s time for the WTA to rethink the constant changing of balls between tournaments,” criticized Eva Lys from Hamburg after she had to give up in Seoul last week due to shoulder pain. “Adjusting yourself every week is very difficult for many players.”
Previous generations also complained about the balls from time to time – so former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic classifies the current complaints pragmatically. “Nowadays everyone complains about everything,” said the Djokovic coach at Clay. “The sun, the rain, the court, the balls – the conditions are the same for everyone. The balls are just different in every tournament and that’s it.”