Emma Raducanu has expressed concern regarding the WTA tour’s usage of various tennis balls.
The 21-year-old has experienced multiple injury setbacks since taking home the US Open trophy in 2021. Last year, she had surgery on her left ankle and both wrists, which kept her out of action for the rest of the season.
Since making her competitive comeback in January, Raducanu has participated in events in Auckland, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and the Australian Open.
This month, the British player participated in the Indian Wells Open as well, but she lost to second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-5, and was eliminated in the third round. She raised her reservations regarding the use of certain tennis balls on the circuit after the match.
Raducanu and the other WTA players have been using Penn-made tennis balls for the past two weeks, but at the Miami Open next week, they will need to switch to Dunlop balls.
Discussing the issue, Raducanu said: “The conditions are very different in Indian Wells compared to Miami. It’s very humid. The balls are very heavy. They are different, which I don’t think is great for any of the players’ wrists, but especially mine. I honestly think it’s really bad for us, the way that we have to switch balls every single week and especially when you’ve gone through surgeries.”
She continued: “I know a lot of players who are struggling with wrist problems, too. I don’t understand why every other sport is pretty much the same, whereas in tennis it’s different from week to week.”
Emma Raducanu in 2024
WWWLWWLLWW Currently ranked no.250, Emma played her last match on the 11th of March when she was overcome by world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-5 in the 3rd round in Indian Wells (draw).
Presently, during this year Emma has managed to achieve a compiled 5-5 record.
Emma Raducanu |
| Embed from Getty Images |
