Novak Djokovic stated that he recognizes a direct connection in response to the ongoing controversy around tennis balls hurting players.
Between the players and the regulatory organizations, frequent ball changes continue to be a sticking point. Tennis players have voiced their opposition on one side. Vasek Pospsil, a PTPA member, charged the ATP and WTA with ‘slowing the game down’ by adopting heavier balls last month.
Popsil asserted that the players’ bodies would start to decline if the adjustments weren’t quickly corrected. The topic recently came up again at the China Open, with several players contributing to the discussion.
Djokovic claims that switching balls up to three times in less than a month has an impact on the joints because heavier balls are known to put more strain on the wrist and shoulder muscles and cause problems.
Djokovic expressed his thoughts about it during a conversation and said: “There is certainly a connection between frequent injuries of the wrist, elbow, shoulder joint with balls and their changes. I am absolutely in favor of choosing one ball with which we will play all ATP tournaments.”
He added: “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, of course depending on the surface.”
Djokovic concluded: “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.”
Novak Djokovic in 2023
WWWWWLWWLW Ranked world no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 15th of September when he beat world no.25 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 6-4 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This season Djokovic has a 46-5 win-loss record. Djokovic clinched 5 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. The Serbian reached the final in Wimbledon.
Djokovic will compete next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 30th of October.
Novak Djokovic |
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