Injury concerns prompt ball review
The two major tennis tours have announced a “strategic review” of balls used in tournaments ahead of the Australian Open as complaints continue from players about the impact on injuries because of the constant ball changes at events around the world.
Concerns have been voiced from a suite of the world’s best players, including 10-time Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic and injured Australian star Nick Kyrgios, about the differences in balls used around the world.
Djokovic was adamant the balls used at the United Cup played a role in a wrist issue, which he looks to have recovered from in time to chase an 11th win in Melbourne.
Kyrgios responded to Djokovic’s complaint declaring players “suffer all the time” by changing balls which can be harder and softer.
Australian veteran John Millman, who will retire after the Open, did a review of the balls to be used at Melbourne Park last month and found them to show “significant wear when they age” and suggested they could “rough up” on the show courts.
After losing at the Adelaide International on Monday night, Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis labelled the balls, the same as those to be used in Melbourne, “lemons” for going soft.
The balls for this year’s Open have again been manufactured by Dunlop and each of the four majors, as well as tour events, source their own balls, ensuring frequent change across the season.
Acknowledging it as an issue, both the ATP and WTA conceded it created “potential inconsistencies of balls used week-on-week” and vowed to work towards a “more centralised approach”.
“The intention is to now move towards a more consistent and centralised approach,” a joint statement said. “The goal is to deliver greater ball consistency within tournament swings for players, and tighter certification and specification requirements for an enhanced end-product, while not adversely affecting revenue streams.”
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, said balls, and match scheduling, with changes set to impact the number of night games, were “priority topics on our agenda”.