New balls, please.
Shortly before the start of the US Open on Monday (August 29th to September 11th) there is again discussion about the fact that men and women have different balls.
Eurosport expert Alex Corretja (48) jumps to the side of top professionals like Iga Swiatek (21/Poland) or Paula Badosa (24/Spain), explaining at Eurosport that the players these days “hit so hard that they need a little more control “.
The two-time French Open finalist continues: “As a player, you have to have a feel for the game. I think they should consider that they might just play with the same ball for next season.” There is “no point in having different balls”.
How do men’s and women’s balls differ?
The felt ball used by women at the US Open is a little less fluffy. But it is more aerodynamic due to a tighter fabric on the ball seam.
In the other three Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon), men and women play with the same balls.
Iga Swiatek training in New York. She has won the French Open twice so far (2020, 2022)
Only recently, world number one Swiatek said: “I’ve heard many players complain about it because we have different balls than the men.”
The women’s balls would “fly like crazy” because of the characteristics. That is no longer up to date when you look at the physical development in women’s tennis. Swiatek: “We have a really strong game today. It’s not like it was ten years ago.”
Christopher Kas (42), coach of our Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier (23), told the ARD sports show: “The women’s ball is a little easier to play, is less heavy on the racket and flies a little easier through the air. As a result, players sometimes have the feeling that the ball is more difficult to control.”
The desire of the players seems very understandable…
▶︎ Our Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria (35) will play on Monday (from 5 p.m., live Eurosport) on the Grandstand against Greek Maria Sakkari (27), who is number three. At the Australian Open, Maria lost to the world number three 4-6, 6-7 (2-7), but then won in the third round of Wimbledon against Sakkari (6-3, 7-5).
Maria before the match: “I’m fit, I’ve prepared well. Of course I try to give everything.” As always on the tour, her husband Charles-Edouard and their two children accompany her.
