Carlos Alcaraz says tennis players need to adapt to the changing of tennis balls at tournaments after admitting he noticed a difference with the ones being used at the China Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion says he agrees with recent remarks made by Daniil Medvedev about the balls used in Beijing which the Russian links to his mixed performance against Alex de Minaur on Saturday. He has also claimed that these changes have contributed to an increase in injuries occurring. A comment that has been supported by Taylor Fritz who wrote of X (formerly known as Twitter) that he has been dealing with wrist issues since the start of the North American hardcourt swing due to ball changes.
“As soon as you play some shots with them, they go very big, much (fluffier)… it becomes like a grapefruit,” Medvedev told AFP news.
“We’re basically playing 30-shot rallies because it’s almost impossible to hit a winner.’
“With these balls, you have to be 100 per cent on every point, until the last point of the match. I managed to do it well so this, I’m happy about.”
Quizzed about Medvedev’s comment following his 6-2, 6-2, win over Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday, world No.2 Alcaraz said he has also noticed a change with the tennis balls being used. Although he did not comment on its alleged link with player injuries.
“I felt it since the first practice that I did here in Beijing. It is something tough but the tennis player has to used to that,” he told reporters.
“They change balls in every tournament or almost in every tournament is a different ball. You have to get used to that.’
“It’s kind of different feeling when you are coming into a tournament, is like: What is going to be the ball? It’s a question that I think every player is asking themself about the balls. Here (at the China Open) in just one game, two games, the ball becomes different from the new ones. It’s kind of different play, and you have to get used to that.”
Alcaraz’s win over Musetti on Sunday is his 60th of the season which is more than any other player on the ATP Tour. He has also won a Tour-leading six titles so far in 2023.
The Spaniard will next play Casper Ruud in what will be their first clash since the 2022 US Open final. Ruud outlasted Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), in his Sunday match.
“Casper is a really tough, tough player. So I have to show my best,” said Alcaraz.
“I have to be focused on the match, try not let him dominate, and don’t let him feel comfortable hitting the balls, moving.’
“It is going to be a really tough match, but at the same time fun to play and for the fans to watch, as well.”
Alcaraz is bidding to become the first player to win an ATP 500 trophy on three different surfaces within the same season since the category was introduced in 2009.
