Alcaraz, like several top players before him, voiced concern over the impact these irregularities are having on their game and physical well-being. He pointed out that “many players” suffered injuries last year and emphasized that “something needs to change.” His comments echo those of other notable figures in the tennis world, including Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Emma Raducanu. These players have all raised similar complaints over the frequent ball changes and their subsequent effects on their performances and bodies.
Of all the critics, Medvedev has been the most outspoken. Since 2023, he has frequently voiced concerns about the quality of the balls, even warning that they could cause “shoulder pain for the rest of my life.” At the 2023 Shanghai Masters, Medvedev publicly criticized the quality of the balls during his match, telling the tournament supervisor, “These balls are not good enough for professional tennis… No pressure at all.” He went on to add that in major tournaments like the Shanghai Masters, the balls deteriorated far too quickly—after just five games—making it difficult for players to maintain their level of play.
Medvedev also raised an important point about how the current ball quality disproportionately favors certain players, particularly those like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who possess the ability to generate immense power. “I think it basically favours people who can benefit power from dead balls,” Medvedev explained. “The two best players at doing this, they’re already the best players in the world, and I’m sure they would be without the balls, but with these balls, they’re the only players who can generate crazy power. It gives them an extra edge.”
Alcaraz, however, while acknowledging the issue, offered a slightly different perspective after his first-round victory over Botic van de Zandschulp in Rotterdam. He noted, “I think last year there were many injuries, many players with elbow or shoulder issues. Something needs to change. I know they will change it.” While the Spaniard has avoided physical issues related to the balls so far, he recognizes the challenge posed by the constant changes in equipment.
Alcaraz added that the variety of balls used each week, along with the varying conditions across tournaments, makes it difficult for players to find consistency. “Every week, practically every week, we have different balls, different conditions, so it’s complicated to adapt to them,” he said. Despite these challenges, Alcaraz remains determined to maintain his level of play: “We are here to give our best and give the best of ourselves.”
Even though Alcaraz hasn’t faced major injury problems, he admitted that adjusting to new balls can still be a tough task. “New balls, everything seems to move very fast… and after two or three exchanges, the ball becomes very big and it’s a bit difficult to play aggressively with them,” he explained. Nonetheless, the 21-year-old is not one to complain and remains focused on delivering a high standard of tennis despite these hurdles.
Alcaraz’s frustrations with the ever-changing conditions are not new; he had voiced similar concerns during the Paris Masters in November. “We are tennis players, every week is different, you know, different conditions, different courts, different balls,” he noted. “We have to get used to it, but at some point it should be different, it should be better. But you know, we can’t do nothing about it.”
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is set to face either Andrea Vavassori or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round of the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam. As the debate over the inconsistency of tennis balls rages on, it is clear that this issue is far from resolved, and the pressure for change continues to grow.