US Open
Shortly before the start of the tournament, the debate about the different tennis balls for men and women at the US Open came up again. The Spanish ex-professional Alex Corretja strengthened top players like the Pole Iga Swiatek and the Spaniard Paula Badosa, who had criticized the regulation at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year as no longer up to date.
Today’s players would “hit so hard that they need a little more control,” said Corretja. “As a player you have to have a feel for the game. I think they should consider that maybe they’ll just play with the same ball for next season.” There is “no point in having different balls.”
Swiatek had previously argued similarly. “I’ve heard many players complain about it because we have different balls than the men,” said the 21-year-old recently. The women’s balls would “fly like crazy” because of the characteristics. In view of the physical development in women’s tennis, this is no longer up to date. “We have a really strong game today. It’s not like it was ten years ago,” said the world number one.
The women’s game ball during the US Open is a little less fluffy, but more aerodynamic due to a tighter weave at the ball seam. In the three other Grand Slam tournaments, men and women play with the same balls.
