After leaving at the ATP tournament in Rome, Alexander Zverev criticized the “big balls” and differences to other tournaments. The topic has been moving several players for a long time.
“The balls were a joke today”said Zverev after his defeat in the quarter-finals at the ATP tournament in Rome against Lorenzo Musetti: “You say we play in Monaco, Madrid and Munich with the same balls. Then we come here and the balls are very different. They are very large. It is difficult to beat Winner here.”
In addition to the question of whether the size of the balls can be a reason for the defeat, another remains: What can and can the balls differ?
The size and weight of the balls can vary
Different balls are used on the ATP tour. Manufacturers such as Dunlop or Yonex deliver the play equipment. And the rules of the ITF Tennis Association allow differences.
In terms of size that Zverev criticized in Rome, a measure between 6.54 and 6.86 centimeters applies. The weight can also vary, between 56.0 and 59.4 grams.
The differences sound marginally, but have been an issue for the players for some time. Many want a standard to avoid recurring getting used to it.
Top players give differently complicit in injuries
The Serbian top player Novak Djokovic criticized in October 2023 that many players had to constantly adjust from tournament to tournament to other balls. “I think there must be a little more consistency with the balls”said Djokovic at the time and referred to injury risks: “This avoids problems with wrists, elbows and shoulders.”
Djokovic sits in the Executive Committee of the PTPA player association, which is currently suing the ATP in the commercial area when it comes to marketing tournaments.
But other players have also repeatedly addressed the topic since 2023, for example Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz or Stan Wawrinka. The wish is formulated: uniform balls at the tournaments.
One problem: ball manufacturers are sponsors
Against this background, uniform balls appears to be a sensible measure, which, however, could oppose the money. Because the manufacturers are fighting for presence at the important tournaments. Competition among the possible ball partners promises higher yields.
The ATP occupies a lot of money with the sponsoring contracts with the manufacturers. The players also benefit from it, because the money is financed with parts of their prize money.
In addition, such a regulation could apply to the ATP tournaments, but the Grand Slam tournaments market themselves. Wimbledon has been using Balls from the Slazenger brand since 1902. The balls at the US Open and the French Open come from Wilson, those at the Australian Open from Dunlop.
Alexander Zverev writes autographs for fans at Terra Wortmann Cup 2023
Manufacturer at tournaments in Rome, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Munich the same
It also shows that there are differences not only between the manufacturers. You may also appear from the same brand for balls. Dunlop is not the only one, but the most used manufacturer of balls at ATP tournaments. The balls, the different form of Zverev complained, came from the same manufacturer in Rome as well as in Madrid, Munich and Monte Carlo: Dunlop. The manufacturer promises “consistency around the world” on its website.
But are there really? After his victory in the 3rd round of Rome against Vilius Gaubas, Zverev said: “The balls are much slower this year. I don’t know what they did with the balls again. Sure, we play with Dunlop balls. But in Madrid, Munich and Monte Carlo we played with extremely fast balls. This is strange. They try to tell us that this is the same ball? No chance.”