Taylor Fritz has voiced strong concerns about the quality of Dunlop balls ahead of his return to the Indian Wells Masters 1000, a tournament he won in 2022. The world No. 7 believes the current rules on ball changes are insufficient and could lead to injuries. βThe next tournament is Indian Wells and, honestly, it’s going to be very interesting. This year, they’re changing the ball and we’ll be playing with the Dunlop, which is the one we use most on the tour. The problem is that the Dunlop is generally slow. When it wears out, it becomes even slower, and lately, it wears out very quickly,β Fritz said.
Concerns over durability
Fritz explained that the balls lose quality too quickly, especially on slower courts, making it difficult for players to maintain high-level performance. He argued that the current replacement frequency of seven or nine games is excessive. βThe other day, when the score was 3-3 in the first set, I looked at the ball and thought: βHow can we play professional tennis with this? It’s ridiculous,ββ Fritz commented.
Injuries linked to poor ball quality
The American highlighted that declining ball quality has already contributed to injuries. He recalled receiving balls during the COVID-19 period that were inconsistent with the usual standards. βI really think the quality of the balls has dropped a lot. Many things have changed since the COVID-19 period, including in manufacturing. Last year, I even got injured because I was sent balls that had nothing to do with the ones we usually use,β Fritz told Punto de Break.
Call for rule changes
Fritz urged the ATP to reconsider ball replacement rules to protect players and improve match quality. He pointed to examples like Delray Beach, where balls quickly lose shape and effectiveness. βWithout exaggerating, they were the worst balls I’ve ever seen in my life. For example, at Delray Beach, you play two matches and the balls already look like balloons. You can’t hit a winner, even if you hit with all your might. They become huge,β Fritz explained.
Looking ahead to Indian Wells
Despite his criticism, Fritz remains focused on performing well at Indian Wells, one of his favorite tournaments. He hopes that changes in ball management will be considered to ensure fairer conditions and reduce the risk of injuries for players across the tour.
Taylor Fritz in 2026
At the moment ranked no.7, Fritz played his last match on the 20th of February when he lost to world no.22 Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 in the quarter in Delray Beach (draw).
This season Taylor owns a composed 9-6 record. Taylor Fritz’s best result of the present season was getting to the final in Dallas.
