2023 US Open finalist, Daniil Medvedev has voiced support for Djokovic’s stance on issue of different tennis balls being used at different events on the ATP tour.
The Russian made a shock admission by saying that he is worried about picking shoulder pain for the rest of his life as a consequence as he expressed his hope to find a solution for the problem. Medvedev showed his disdain for the Head tennis balls that were played recently in China where once again a number of players voiced their concerns over the switch of balls contributing to shoulder and wrist injuries.
The World #3 is competing at the Vienna Open this week, where he edged past Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(6) in the semis. Medvedev will face the winner of Andrey Rublev vs. Jannik Sinner in the final of tourney where he is a defending titlist.
After his quarter-final victory against countryman Karen Khachanov in Austria, the 2021 US Open champion repeated his critic of change of ball from one event to the next and warned that it could become a major problem for the players’ physical wellbeing if not addressed.
“You hit the ball ten times and you have the feeling that every time it becomes bigger, bigger and bigger. It swells a lot. I don’t want to feel shoulder pain for the rest of my life. I hope a solution can be found,” asserted the 27-year-old.
In an interview with Sportal earlier in October, 24-time GS champion, Djokovic criticized the ATP tour authorities and other players on the circuit, for their inaction and silence on the matter.
“There is certainly a connection between frequent injuries of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder with ball changes. I am absolutely in favour of choosing one ball with which we will play all ATP tournaments,” said the Serbian.
“It is different and more difficult with the Grand Slams because each of the biggest tournaments we play, negotiates separately which sponsor they will have for the balls, but this also happens on the ATP tour.
“Every tournament has the right to negotiate. However, we simply have to find a way to unify, so that in each category on the ATP tour we have one ball to play with, depending on the surface. Sometimes that change of balls happens three times in three weeks depending on where we play, and it affects the health of the players and the joints themselves.
“In that sense, I support the players complaining and asking the ATP to find a way to resolve it. They have to find a solution. I didn’t see that the ATP issued any statement regarding the player’s complaints, and these are things that are incomprehensible to me.
“When you have tennis players from the top who are trying to reach you in public and say, ‘Hey, let’s talk about that topic,’ you have to make a statement, address them and say, ‘Okay, we understand, let’s sit at the table, let’s talk.’
“I don’t understand why there is silence from their side. I hope they will realise that there simply must be direct communication. Likewise, it should be publicly announced that they have received this information re working on it, in the sense that they will see how they can find a solution that is acceptable. Silence will not change anything.
“Let’s see if there is some process where questions are asked to the players and responses are sought from a larger group of players, from a hundred players, to see what everyone thinks, to see the consensus. There must be some activation, I don’t understand why there is silence from their side,” said the 36-year-old.
World No. 1, Djokovic is set to return to action at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Paris next week, after taking a month away from the game as he only competed at the Davis Cup group stage in Malaga earlier last month after winning the 4th US Open title and third slam of the 2023 season.