US Open finally bends its age-old rule as they give heed to requests by players like Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa over the ball quality at the Grand Slam
After complaints from WTA players including prominent names like Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa, USTA has finally decided to use the same ball for both Men's and Women's draws starting from US Open 2023.
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US Open (Source: ATP Tour)
The US Open has finally decided to use the same balls for both the men’s and women’s draws, starting with its 2023 edition, which is set to commence in over a week’s time on August 28th. Tournament director Stacey Allaster announced and addressed this change in a press conference on Thursday.
After the 2022 US Open, the USTA (United States Tennis Association) received a lot of complaints, mainly from the WTA players, regarding the horrible quality of the ball used for the women’s draw. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who went up to win the tournament last year, and Paula Badosa were two of the most prominent names to voice their opinions regarding this to WTA CEO and chairman Steve Simon.
The main issue with the ball that was being used in the US Open’s women’s draw so far was that it was way too light compared to the one used in the men’s draw. Thus, it was not able to hold its strength for too long.
“Fifteen years ago, probably women had some elbow injuries because the balls were heavier, and they changed them to women’s balls. But right now we are so physically well prepared that I don’t think it would happen,” Iga Swiatek said after the 2022 US Open.
Stacey Allaster said that during last year’s tournament, she met with some players who wanted the change and let them know that it is the WTA who decides what ball the athletes will play with, and Wilson can accommodate the changes accordingly. The only criterion is that the necessary change in the ball has to be made exactly one year prior to the coming tournament.
“Every year, the WTA informs us of what Wilson US Open ball they would like their athletes to play with,” Allaster said. “Last year during the tournament, we had some players that wanted to change the ball, and I met with some of those players and said, ‘Look talk to [WTA chairman and CEO] Steve Simon. Talk to your player council representatives. If the WTA wants to change the ball, no problem, Wilson can accommodate that.’ It’s no extra cost,” she said.
“The only condition we gave to the WTA was we need to know what ball you want to play with in 2023 at the end of the 2022 US Open. That’s how far the lead times are for Wilson to produce the volume of our US Open ball,” Allaster concluded.
The US Open was the only Grand Slam (out of the existing four) to use different balls for both draws and now this uniformity is maintained by all the Grand Slams.
Juan Martin del Potro makes final decision on US Open participation
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has announced that he will not be participating in the tournament this year through a heartfelt note on X (formally known as Twitter). The 34-year-old Argentinian wished to play his farewell match in the 2023 US Open, but his body and fitness will sadly not permit that.
Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open by beating Roger Federer and was one of the most promising talents back then. However, an array of continuous injuries hampered his career. He made a great but short comeback in the 2018 US Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic but got injured again shortly afterward.
Del Potro had hinted at a comeback at the 2023 US Open, making the fans excited. However, it was never confirmed by the tournament, and this announcement by Del Potro now comes as a massive setback.
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Vitasta Singh
(691 Articles Published)