Late nights, demanding schedules and the added rigors of regularly changing conditions have become common topics of conversation in the tennis world, especially this year.
As another long and grueling season draws to a close this week in Malaga, with Davis Cup Finals Acting as the final reminder of competition in 2023, the issue of scheduling, injuries and player burnout is once again on players’ minds as the eleventh month of their season draws to a close.
“What I can guarantee you 100% is that it doesn’t help that conditions are constantly changing.”
Ruusuvuori on the frequently changing conditions of the ATP Tour
Emil Ruusuvuori is an actor for whom this subject weighs heavily. Best Finnish player in the Davis Cup final, Ruusuvuori was forced to watch his team’s success from the sidelines. a historic triumph against the defending champion, Canada in their first ever appearance in the quarter-finals.
“The amount of travel and playing time (is a big injury risk), but with a ranking like mine, that’s how this sport works,” Ruusuvuori told Spanish media, as he continues to to treat the shoulder injury that kept him off the field. Malaga so far.
“Only Novak I can play ten tournaments a year and be No. 1,” continued the Finn, smiling.
“For the rest of us, things are not so simple. You have to play a lot because there are a lot of results that count, 19.
“Travels, balls, all that influences. Everyone says they’d like to play less, but we end up playing almost every week. This is what we have to do, this is what the circuit pushes us to do.
“What I can guarantee you 100% is that it doesn’t help that conditions are constantly changing.
“I also have to review my schedule with the team, establish a schedule in which I can play two weeks with the same ball, because if you change every week you are taking too many risks.”
Finland faces Australia in the first domestic Davis Cup semi-final, having been runners-up last year. made an excellent start to the school year dash the hopes of a young but promising Czech team.
It remains to be seen whether the Finnish star player will be fit enough to take the field.
But this has become a recurring trope throughout the 2023 season, as players repeatedly call for fewer ball changes to help alleviate the long list of varying conditions they face from week to week.
Tournament balls are often determined by sponsors, and because different events have different sponsors, ball changes between competitions remain common.
As another long and arduous year on tour draws to a close, many are hoping that the time has come for tennis’ various governing bodies to step back and consider what can be done to ease some of the player concerns. before the routine of a new season resumes in January.
