Hey tennis fans! Paula Badosa is making some noise in the tennis world. She’s calling out the ATP and WTA for the ‘inhumane’ conditions that players have been facing. And she’s not alone in her frustration. Fellow pro Gastao Elias also spoke up about the issue, saying that the new conditions are just not right.
Tennis balls have been causing quite a stir lately. Players are not happy with the constant changes in brands and the increasing weight of the balls. It’s putting pressure on the ATP and WTA to take action.
Gastao Elias, ranked 366th in the world, demanded that the ATP pay for his physiotherapy. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his frustration, saying, ‘I demand @atptour to pay for all the physiotherapy I will need after playing with these balls they are making us play with. I’ve been on tour for many years and I’ve never seen anything like this. THIS IS INHUMANE!’
Other players, like Tennys Sandgren, agreed with Elias. And Paula Badosa joined in, highlighting that the issue extends to the women’s circuit as well. She tweeted, ‘Agree! The issue is not only ATP unfortunately… With the WTA we are having the same problems for years as well. We need a change from both sides.’
Badosa has been dealing with injuries throughout the 2023 season, which has limited her playing time. She only managed to participate in one Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, before having to withdraw due to an abductor issue. She returned to play in Doha but has been struggling with a stress fracture in her back since spring, forcing her to miss the French Open.
Despite her limited schedule, Badosa is well aware of the problems caused by the tennis balls. She hopes to make a comeback at the Billie Jean King Cup in November.
It’s not just Badosa and Elias who have raised concerns. ATP star Zizou Bergs shared on Instagram that he believes the constant ball changes may have caused a torn ligament in his left wrist. Stan Wawrinka and Taylor Fritz also expressed their frustrations with the changing tennis balls.
So, what’s the solution? Players are calling for a more consistent approach to tennis balls. They believe that sticking to one brand and weight would help prevent injuries and create a fair playing field. It’s time for the ATP and WTA to listen to the players and make a change.
Let’s hope that the tennis chiefs take these concerns seriously and work towards creating better conditions for the players. After all, they are the ones who make the sport so exciting to watch. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing issue!