It quickly became evident to Daniil Medvedev that he was struggling at the French Open. During his first-round match against Britain’s Cameron Norrie, the Russian felt uncomfortable making contact with the ball.
As his chances of progressing in one of the most prestigious tournaments faded, the 29-year-old opted for a bold approach. Medvedev requested a complete change of strings, switching from a mix of natural gut and polyester strings to a full polyester setup mid-match.
While players often adjust string tension during matches, changing the string type is rare. Medvedev noted he has made this switch multiple times in 2023, stating, “Until 2023, I had never done it. Something started to change on tour; I had to adapt. Now I’m never sure.”
The world No. 18 is alluding to the varying properties of tennis balls on tour, with recent changes making it challenging for him to optimize his game. The consistency of tennis balls has been a significant source of frustration and discussion among players. Novak Djokovic emphasized, “That’s probably the biggest difference I can notice, compared to maybe 10, 15 years ago. It’s the balls.”
One of the key challenges in elite tennis is adapting to different conditions week by week, including the fluctuating quality of tennis balls. Each tournament has its own agreements with ball manufacturers, which can complicate matters. The rapid decay of various balls has raised injury concerns; Emma Raducanu remarked, “I do think the balls are a big challenge for all of us.”
New tennis balls have a tight felt layer, which becomes fluffier upon contact, reducing their aerodynamics. Fluffier balls travel slower, leading to longer rallies, which players find challenging. Players like Casper Ruud have also noted that their shots seem less effective compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic when ball quality was more consistent.
Many players have attempted to counteract these ball issues by using a combination of natural gut and polyester strings to increase power, while others adjust to a looser string tension. Despite these adaptations, young stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner continue to excel, employing their powerful games to overcome slower balls. Among the most vocal on this issue, Medvedev describes the balls as his biggest challenge as he seeks to navigate a difficult phase in his career.
