Raducanu criticizes

Trouble over balls: “Not good for the wrists”

Emma Raducanu(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Trouble in the tennis circus! The constant changing of balls annoys the stars. One of them: Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner.

"It's very different in Indian Wells than in Miami. It's damp and the balls are heavy. It's really not good for wrists," says the Brit. Last year, she had two wrist operations and had to take more than eight months off.

Penn brand balls were used in Indian Wells. In Miami, the pros play with Dunlop balls. At other tournaments, Wilson balls are preferred.

"Change every week"
"I think it's really bad that we have to change every week, especially when you've had operations. I also know a lot of other people who have wrist problems. I don't know why there is consistency in pretty much every other sport, whereas in tennis you have to change every week," complains Raducanu, who only lost to world number two Aryna Sabalenka in two tight sets in the round of 16 in Indian Wells.

Novak Djokovic also complained in the past that the players had too little time to adjust to the new balls. Iga Swiatek takes a more diplomatic view: "The most important thing is to adapt to the balls and the surface. If you can do that quickly, you'll play better.

The fact is, this topic will continue to be the subject of much discussion in the future.