‘Something needs to change’ – Carlos Alcaraz highlights tennis issue causing ‘many injuries’
Carlos Alcaraz brought the issue of the inconsistency of tennis balls used at different events on the tour back into the spotlight after his opening match at the 2025 Rotterdam Open.
The world No 3 pointed out that there were “many players” who suffered elbow or shoulder injuries last year as he asserted that “something needs to change.”
Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Emma Raducanu have all questioned the frequent balls changes in the past two seasons.
Medvedev has been the most vocal and regular critic of the quality of balls since expressing fears about having “shoulder pain for the rest of my life” in 2023.
During a match at the Shanghai Masters in October, Medvedev called for the tournament supervisor to raise his grievances.
“These balls are not good enough for professional tennis,” the Russian said. “This is one of the biggest tournaments in the world and the balls are destroyed after five games. No pressure at all.”
The 2021 US Open champion later argued that this type of ball helps both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but not other players.
“I think it basically favours people who can benefit power from dead balls. Some have better quality with this. Some don’t,” Medvedev assessed.
“Actually the two best players at doing this, they’re already the best players in the world, and I’m sure they would be without the balls, but with these balls, they’re the only players who can generate crazy power. It’s Jannik and Carlos. It gives them an extra edge.”
In his press conference after beating Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round in Rotterdam, Alcaraz weighed in on the topic.
“I think last year there were many injuries, many players with elbow or shoulder issues,” the 21-year-old said. “Something needs to change. I know they will change it.
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“Every week, practically every week, we have different balls, different conditions, so it’s complicated to adapt to them.
“However, we are here to give our best and give the best of ourselves. I have not had physical problems because of it so far, I work every day to be in shape. Right now, I’m fine.”
The Spaniard added: “I had good training to adapt, but it was tough. New balls, everything seems to move very fast… and after two or three exchanges, the ball becomes very big and it’s a bit difficult to play aggressively with them.
“Still, I don’t want to complain about it; I feel that even so, you can show a good level of tennis.”
Alcaraz also voiced his concerns about the disparity in playing conditions and balls used from week to week during the Paris Masters in November.
“We are tennis players, every week is different, you know, different conditions, different courts, different balls,” the Spaniard said.
“We have to get used to it, but at some point it should be different, it should be better. But you know, we can’t do nothing about it.”
Alcaraz will face either Andrea Vavassori or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round of the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam.
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