Djokovic says ATP is to address players’ concerns over using different balls from week to week

The world No 1 said he has been told that the ATP will be discussing various options in the coming weeks

Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Davis Cup in Valencia

October 29, 2023

Several players on the men’s and women’s tour have raised the issue of different balls being used week-in week-out on the tour, claiming that the frequent changes in balls are directly related to injuries suffered by them.

Now world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who returns this week to the ATP Tour for the first time since winning the US Open in September, has weighed in on the subject, revealing that meetings will take place with the ATP and saying that there needs to be more consistency in the balls used on tour.

“I actually just had the conversation with Andrea Gaudenzi, president of ATP, and Massimo (Calvelli), the CEO. Because I haven’t been on the tour for quite some time, so I haven’t had a chance to talk to them,” Djokovic said ahead of the start of the Paris Masters on Saturday.

“Of course I have seen the comments that more and more players were making about the balls that were used on different tournaments. Actually, (Sebastian) Korda, the player that I practiced with today, told me that this is fifth tournament now in a row that he’s been playing with different balls. This inconsistency is an issue, and that’s what most of the players, and also of course including myself, we complain about. I think there needs to be a bit more consistency with the balls so that we avoid any kind of issues with wrists and elbows and shoulders.”

There’s obviously a lot of factors that are going to be in play in order to make this change.
Novak Djokovic

Djokovic says ATP is discussing the balls situation

Djokovic, who is also leading the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Assocation) that aims to raise issues on behalf of the players with the governing bodies of tennis, said the ATP bosses are going to look into the issue. “I think that there is actually quite an understanding from Andrea and Massimo about the players’ comments and the issues that players have been communicating basically through media, as well,” he said.

“As I understood, there is going to be some board meetings happening soon where they will discuss the different options and things they could do. I think overall, it’s just, it would be nice for players that there is a consistency. So, for example, if you have a clay court swing prior to Roland Garros, that you play with the same ball. As well as other surfaces and other swings. Hopefully that’s going to be the case.”

Even while Djokovic batted for the issue, he did agree that resolving the issue is not as simple due to the various parties involved. “There’s obviously a lot of factors that are going to be in play in order to make this change,” he said.

“It’s not easy because you have to think about the tournaments and the brands, manufacturing facilities that are owned by the brands or some use as a third party. There is a lot of different elements in play that need to be discussed commercially but also functionally for us. But for the players obviously we are not thinking too much about commercial aspect as much as the functional and what is important for us in order to improve or prevent any kind of issues with injuries.”

Djokovic is the top seed in Paris and has a first-round bye. He plays countryman Miomir Kecmanovic or Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round.