As one of the world's top-ranked tennis players on the ATP Tour, Daniil Medvedev knows a thing or two about the game, and his recent words are concerning.
In a recent press conference, the Russian athlete spoke out about an issue that he believes is affecting players on the court: the tennis balls. Medvedev shared his thoughts on the topic after previously experiencing pain in his wrist before a match at the Australian Open, where he lost to Sebastian Korda.
“I think the toughest for me was to get used to the balls. I want to talk a little bit more about it because in Australia I felt like these balls were not good for hard courts, and in the match with Korda, before the match, I had a very big pain in my wrist, but I thought, okay, that’s my problem, so I’m not going to talk much about it.”
Although he initially attributed the discomfort to his own physical issues, a conversation with another player later made him realize that it might be the tennis balls causing the problem.
“Then in Rotterdam, a doubles player came to me and started talking about balls and (said) that everyone has problems with their elbow, wrist. He thinks it’s because of the balls. I was like, ‘Wow, so I’m not the only one.’”
Although he triumphed in Rotterdam and won the title also in Doha, according to Medvedev, the balls used in Australia as well as those used in Rotterdam and Doha were not suitable for hard courts, as they tended to become too fluffy, causing players to struggle with their racquets. The result is increased pressure on the wrist and elbow, leading to injury.
“I think that these balls are not good for hard courts. They get very fluffy. It’s a big shock to play them with your racquet. I think this should be reconsidered because I feel like if I don’t do enough work on my wrist every day it’s gonna be very painful.”
Although Medvedev is just one player, he believes that there could be many others suffering from the same issue. As he said in the interview:
“If there are going to be 15 players that come out and say, ‘Yeah, I feel the same,’ then it’s a problem of the balls. I’m just going to wait and see what happens when other players get asked this question.”
Medvedev's comments have raised concerns about the safety of tennis players, particularly those who like to play on the hard courts. If the balls are indeed causing injuries, then it is imperative that they are reconsidered to prevent further harm to players.
As the tennis world awaits the response of other players, it is clear that Medvedev's concerns have shone a spotlight on an issue that many may have previously overlooked.
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