© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Iga Swiatek says the constant ball changes aren’t actually the biggest ball-related problem the players are facing as the world No. 1 claims the players often do not get enough of tournament balls for practice.
Since early 2023, numerous players across the ATP and WTA have complained about the constant ball changes, with many blaming that for the increased number of injuries. At the start of the 2024 season, nothing changed in that aspect as there is a good number of players still complaining about the constant ball changes.
But in Indian Wells, four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek went a step further, claiming that “a bigger issue” is players usually not getting enough practice balls – which makes it harder for them to adjust to the ball used at a certain tournament.
“For sure, adjusting to the balls, it’s the most important thing, and to the surface, it’s the most important thing in our sport. The one that is going to adapt quicker is going to play better,” Swiatek said.
“We always had the Penn balls here, the ones we couldn’t really get to practice. I think this is the bigger issue, that we don’t get the tournament ball. I mean, I think I got one box.
“So I don’t want to be mean, but usually, overall, when we…
