Iga Świątek has expressed concerns about the tennis balls used in certain WTA tournaments, describing them as “horrible” and highlighting the challenges they present for players. At the US Open, men and women use different balls: the men use extra duty balls, while the women use regular duty ones. The regular duty balls are thinner and lighter, leading to faster play but reduced durability. Świątek noted that these lighter balls can cause more unforced errors, making matches less visually appealing.
She also mentioned that after intense play, the balls become even lighter, affecting serving speed and control. This issue has been a topic of discussion among top players, with Świątek and Paula Badosa raising their concerns to WTA CEO Steve Simon. The USTA has stated that they consider various factors in their ball selection and will continue discussions with players and sports science teams.
The debate continues as players and officials seek a balance between performance and health consideratio
ns.