Stefanos Tsitsipas recently expressed his concerns about the impact of Dunlop tennis balls on players' health.
In a candid revelation, the Greek superstar attributed his shoulder injury to the use of these balls, suggesting that their characteristics may be causing physical strain on athletes. The issue of tennis ball quality has come under scrutiny before, with Daniil Medvedev also voicing his concerns.
Medvedev previously shared his difficulties adjusting to Dunlop balls, stating that he experienced wrist pain while using them. He later discovered that other players, including a doubles competitor, had similar complaints, believing that the balls were causing problems with their elbows and wrists. Back then, the Russian said:
“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.”
“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.’”
Now, it seems that even Tsitsipas, who doesn't have the best relationship with Medvedev, joined the Russian in blaming the balls for injuries. He said:
"I think my shoulder injury happened because of this."
These statements from top-ranked players like Tsitsipas and Medvedev should prompt further investigation into the quality of tennis balls used on the ATP Tour. If their assertions hold true, the implications for player safety and performance could be significant.
As tennis is a sport that relies heavily on repetitive motions and puts considerable strain on the body, ensuring that equipment does not exacerbate these physical demands is crucial. The ATP and other governing bodies should take these concerns seriously, considering potential changes to the regulations surrounding tennis ball specifications.
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