“No different than previous editions,” Australian Open tennis balls supplier Dunlop issues a statement amidst criticisms by players including Rafael Nadal
Dunlop, in its statement clarified that there is no difference in quality from the previous years. Other external factors too come into play, the brand explained.
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Rafael Nadal about to serve in a match in the Australian Open
The Australian Open 2023 edition is not like the one fans were used to. The most awaited event of the tennis calendar is turning out to be one of the craziest ones in recent memory. Top seeds stars are falling in an atypical manner, poorly scheduled matches are ending at around 4 AM in the morning, and the tournament Boss is coming out frequently to defend the disorder.
One of the major issues amidst all this drama is the quality of the balls being used for the matches. A few players have complained about it citing the lack of standards. Dunlop, the supplier of these balls in the tournament has come out to make its side of the story clear.
“This year’s Dunlop AO ball is no different from that of previous editions. To date, the organization has received only 5 complaints from 700 players who participated in the tournament,” the manufacturer said in defense.
Countering the perception of the difference between this year and the last, the brand made further clarification.”This year’s Dunlop AO ball is no different from that of previous editions. The innovative technology, high-end materials, and the production process remain unchanged to guarantee consistency, durability, and performance,” it explained.
Dunlop points to many external factors causing the balls to behave differently
The manufacturer went on to cite the frequent change in the conditions that come into play. “Many external factors can affect the performance of the ball, including the style of play, the surface of the court, the climate, the atmosphere, and the changing conditions,” the brand said.
“The weather in Melbourne was very rainy, from 38 degrees on Tuesday, January 17, to 16 degrees with rain on Wednesday, January 16. The very low temperature in the Night Session can also explain this sensational decay,” it continued.
The criticism of the balls being used is not a new phenomenon. Last year the World No. 1 Iga Swiatek criticized the US Open’s balls. This time, Spanish icon Rafael Nadal became the first one to make his anger public about the balls used in the 2023 edition of the Australian Open.
“The Australian Open balls are worse than last year. I think it’s a ball that doesn’t get the same spin as usual. After a couple of hits, the ball loses pressure. It’s more difficult to hit with the right spin,” said Nadal before the tournament.
American player Felix Auger-Aliassime was the next one to voice his concern because of the lack of bounce. During the match against Slovakian Alex Molčan, Auger-Aliassime looked unhappy with the balls and reached the chair umpire about the same.
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Abhinavendu Singh
(290 Articles Published)