In a joint statement issued by the ATP and WTA, it was announced that the two Tours have decided to make some positive changes regarding the match scheduling and the variety of balls used across the Tours to bring some consistency.
This issue was raised by players like Stan Wawrinka, Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek, and Marketa Vondrousova countless times last season and it is good to see that the ATP and WTA are listening to their players.
Talking about the main changes that have been implemented, the number of late-night matches has been reduced.
There can be a maximum of five matches per court per day, with three matches during the morning session and two matches during the evening session. Moreover, no matches will go on court after 11 p.m. unless approved by the ATP/WTA supervisor.
The second major change that has been made is in the balls that will be used across the tours. A strategic review of balls is underway, and the ATP and WTA are trying to move towards a more centralized approach to ball selection for the several tournaments to bring in consistency within tournament swings. The current inconsistency in balls is often leading to a lot of injuries among the players.
Historically, it has been the tournaments that decide what ball is going to be used, and they have their suppliers or sponsors.
However, it leads to players playing with different kinds of balls week in and week out, and it is very difficult to cope with this constant change.
Thus, this decision by the WTA and ATP is a step in the right direction. Thus, this decision by WTA and ATP is a step in the right direction.
ATP and WTA Players have been demanding this change for a long time
Many top players have been voicing their opinions about the inconsistency in balls used in the tournaments across the Tour.
Iga Swiatek, for example, had requested in 2022 that the US Open use the same extra-duty balls that are used for the men’s singles event in the women’s singles event too, instead of the lighter Wilson balls.
The switch was made at the 2023 US Open. Most players were fine with it, but some, like Market Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur, faced difficulties.
They had arm pain and a sore shoulder, respectively, due to the heavier balls. “I hope Iga is happy,” Ons Jabeur had said back then, half-jokingly.
As soon as you play some shots with them, they go very big, much too fluffy. They become like a grapefruit. ... We’re basically playing 30-shot rallies because it’s almost impossible to hit a winner. He said.
Even Daniil Medvedev recently heavily criticized the “ Head Tour” ball being used at the China Open.
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