LAnd tennis balls of the Us Openthe last Slam of the season to be held from 29 August in New York, they are different depending on whether it is male or female matches. The claim comes via social media from some playerswho on Instagram complained about the difference.

Us Open, different tennis balls for men and women

A subject that has not been explored so far. But that seems to make a lot of champions and non-champions angry. Apparently, in fact, the brand used at the US Open is always the same, but those of the WTA, the Women’s Tennis Association, they are lighter with consequences on the game that are far from negligible.

The protest on Instagram

The 24-year-old Spaniard first protested Paula Badosacomplaining that the American Grand Slam is the only major tournament to offer different balls to women and men during his fifteen days of meetings.

The champion on Instagram, showing the two different containers of tennis balls explained: «These are the balls we play with, made on clay and indoors, says the label. And these are the balls that men play with, made for prolonged play on concrete. PS: We also play on concrete ».

us open different tennis balls

Gender equality in the US Open tennis

The problem, however, is not a question of form, but of substance. Indeed, the balls lighter, they become more and more as you progress through the game. And this, however, causes it to become much more difficult to control and manage them.

Today women are more powerful and faster

The Polish number one Iga Swiatek also adds to the dose who, always on social media, is keen to underline a fact: “We women have a really powerful game, it’s no longer like 10 years ago when girls played more slowly and only Serena and Venus were exceptions. The game has changed and with these balls we can’t let go of the shots, we can’t control them and we make more mistakes. Also because, after three games they become lighter and lighter and you have to limit the speed of the service, otherwise they will run away ”

The “ball” now goes to president of the WTA, Steve Simon, which this year has already intervened to get the tournaments of the summer season to be played at least with the same model and not with two different ones. Who knows that next year he will not decide to intervene on this aspect as well.

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