Carlos Alcaraz becomes latest player to back Novak Djokovic on ‘crazy’ ATP issue

Ewan West 14 Nov 2023 1:20 PM

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz joking

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz speak

Carlos Alcaraz has supported Novak Djokovic by becoming the latest player to weigh in on the issue of the inconsistency of tennis balls used on the ATP Tour.

The Spanish star described the constant ball changes from one tournament to the next as “unbelievable” and “crazy” and warned “every player” will get injured if it is not addressed.

In October, Djokovic questioned the sport’s authorities, including the ATP, over their inaction and silence on the matter in an interview with Sportal.

“I support the players complaining and asking the ATP to find a way to resolve it. They have to find a solution. I didn’t see that the ATP issued any statement regarding the player’s complaints, and these are things that are incomprehensible to me,” asserted the world No 1.

At the Paris Masters, the world No 1 divulged that he had held talks with ATP chiefs on the issue and expressed hope a resolution would be found.

World No 3 Daniil Medvedev was also critical of the inconsistency and quality of balls used during recent tournaments in China and in Vienna, where he expressed concerns over player health.

“You hit the ball ten times and you have the feeling that every time it becomes bigger, bigger and bigger. It swells a lot. I don’t want to feel shoulder pain for the rest of my life. I hope a solution can be found,” said the Russian in a press conference in Vienna last month.

Speaking following his loss to Alexander Zverev at the 2023 ATP Finals, Alcaraz joined his fellow top three rivals in challenging the game’s decision makers.

CARLOS ALCARAZ THAT IS INCREDIBLE 🔥@carlosalcaraz #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/N6tnhzyBVW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 13, 2023

“Well, they should do something about it ’cause it’s unbelievable that if we play three or four tournaments in a row, we play four tournaments with different balls. This is amazing. They should do something about it,” declared the world No 2 in his post-match press conference.

“Every swing should play with the same ball. For example, Australia, the tournaments in Australia, with the same ball, and then come to South America with the same ball, America with the same ball. Every swing should play with the same ball and not change in every tournament.

“I think if I hear well, we’ve played with 20 or 21 different balls, something like that, in a year. It’s crazy. There are a lot of players that got injured because of that. If the ATP want the best players in every tournament, they should change it. If not, every player’s going to be injured because of that.”

Alcaraz, who is making his ATP Finals debut, was beaten in three sets by Zverev in his opening round-robin match in the Red Group in Turin on Monday.

The 20-year-old will take on world No 5 Andrey Rublev in his second match at the year-end championships, before a meeting with Medvedev.