Alexander Zverev has spoken out on the quality of the balls used on the ATP Tour.
The German has handled the ball quality better than most this season as he sits at number two in the world and made his second Grand Slam final at the French Open in June.
The talk of the balls used on the tour has increased in recent seasons with some players expressing their displeasure with the quality.
This is a debate Alexander Zverev shared his thoughts on after defeating Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals in Turin.
What did Alexander Zverev say about the tennis balls on the ATP Tour?
On the ATP Tour, the same balls are not used at each event throughout the year. Different balls are in operation at the discretion of the tournament and they may choose certain balls depending on the court conditions.
Zverev, who is a member of the players’ council, told reporters he researched what happened to the quality and production of tennis balls since the coronavirus pandemic.
“The ball is a significant issue. Being part of the players’ council, it was an interesting topic for me. I did some research and asked the companies about tennis ball production.
“Since COVID, all companies have declined significantly in quality. The main reason is that, due to COVID, the companies tried to cut costs using a different rubber material now.
“They are using a different material for the balls, making them on average 30% to 60% slower compared to how they used to be before COVID. It’s not just one company; overall, they are now worse and much slower, less consistent, and don’t last as long.”
Furthermore, Zverev thinks that the lower quality balls will negatively impact pliers and injuries in the long run.
“I have no reason to complain. I’m the number 2 in the world, I’ve had a great season, and I’m not complaining about the results,” he added. “It’s just that I believe, in the long run, players’ health is a significant issue with the current balls.”
Alexander Zverev is up and running at the ATP Finals
Fresh off winning the Paris Masters, Zverev is competing at the ATP Finals and he made a strong start to the tournament.
The 27-year-old began the round robin stage against Madrid Open champion Rublev, and he recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win.
In an evenly-matched contest, Zverev secured a break of serve in each set to ensure he emerged victorious. “I thought it was a very solid match from my end,” Zverev said post-match.
“Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance. I felt like I used my chances quite well and I’m obviously happy with this win.”
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