World number 1 Novak Dkjovic has accused the game’s authorities of endangering players’ health by deciding to use different balls for each event.
In comments made during an interview with Sportal, the 24-time Grand Slam legend claimed that the constant changing of tennis balls in different tournaments poses a huge threat to players.
World number 3 Daniil Medvedev has been highly critical of the Head tennis ball used at tournaments in China, with several players suggesting that everyone’s ball switching even contributes to shoulder and wrist injuries.
Djokovic has now joined the debate, as he believes the game’s decision-makers must protect the welfare of players when choosing balls.
“There is certainly a link between frequent injuries to the wrist, elbow and shoulder during ball changes,” Djokovic said.
“I am absolutely in favor of choosing a ball with which we will play all ATP tournaments. It’s different and more difficult with the Grand Slams because each of the biggest tournaments we play negotiates separately which sponsor they will have for the balls, but this also happens on the ATP Tour.
“Each tournament has the right to negotiate. However, we just have to find a way to unify, so that in each category of the ATP Tour we have a ball to play with, depending on the surface. Sometimes this ball change happens three times in three weeks depending on where we play, and it affects the health of the players and the joints themselves.
“In this sense, I support the players who are complaining and asking the ATP to find a way to resolve the problem. They must find a solution. I have not seen that the ATP has issued a statement regarding the complaints of the player, and these are things that are incomprehensible to me.
“When you have top tennis players trying to reach you in public and saying, ‘Hey, let’s talk about this topic,’ you have to make a statement, address them and say, ‘Okay, we understand, let’s sit at the table, let’s talk.
LEARN MORE: Novak Djokovic reacts to Rafael Nadal over his controversial ‘intense’ shots
“I don’t understand why there is silence on their side. I hope they realize that there just has to be direct communication.
“Similarly, it should be publicly announced that they have received this information regarding their work, in the sense that they will see how they can find an acceptable solution. Silence won’t change anything.
“I haven’t seen that the ATP has issued a statement regarding the player’s complaints, and these are things that are incomprehensible to me. When you have top tennis players trying to reach you in public and you say, “Hey, let’s talk about this!”, you need to make a statement, go to them, say, “Okay, we understand, let’s sit down at the table, let’s talk about it!”
“Let’s see if there is a process where questions are asked of players and answers are sought from a larger group of players, among a hundred players, to see what everyone thinks, to see the consensus. There must be some activation, I don’t understand why there is silence on their side.”
When a player of Djokovic’s stature makes high-profile comments, the tennis world is sure to sit up and take notice.
Let’s see if tennis tournaments will now listen to players’ concerns and put their obsession with signing lucrative deals with tennis ball manufacturers on the side of player welfare.
