Rising American tennis star Ben Shelton is the latest in a long line of tennis players who have complained about the frequent ball changes on tour.
The ATP has come under intense scrutiny and faces player backlash against the perennial ball changes it has introduced on tour in different tournaments. What started as a sea change has become an epidemic according to the players.
Ball changes in almost every tournament have become a bone of contention between the ATP and the players, with reported cases of players picking up shoulder or wrist injuries growing day by day. These injuries have been linked to the heavy tennis balls that are currently in use in most tournaments.
The ATP has not commented on the issue and Novak Djokovic called it "incomprehensible" that the body vested with addressing players' concerns can go quiet on an issue that is now becoming an occupational hazard. Russia's Daniil Medvedev termed the experience of playing with a slow ball on a slow court a "disaster" from a physical standpoint.
Recently, Canada's Vasek Pospisil voiced concerns about how the ATP's strategy of slowing the game down by introducing the special heavy ball is at the expense of the player's health. Pospisil is certain the persistent injuries are only going to get worse if the issue is not acted upon.
And now Shelton is another one to share his opinion after noticing the effect of a new ball in his fifth tournament in a row. The 21-year-old lefty, known for his devastating serve, shared an update while on practice at the Paris Masters, admitting that the challenges he has faced with his arm were non-existent before.
"Usually don't have arm issues, but fifth tournament in a row playing with a different ball, I'm definitely feeling it this week."
Shelton played his first match in Paris-Bercy, falling to a shock defeat to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets. The loss ended his slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
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