Carlos Alcaraz raised an issue with the different tennis balls used on tour (Image: Getty)
has been proven right after
The world No. 3 recently discussed the issue of varying tennis balls being used on the tour, claiming they caused increased injuries.
Days later, revealed that he picked up a fresh oblique injury as a direct result of the tennis balls.
Alcaraz made his debut at the Rotterdam Open, where he admitted it was difficult to adjust to the tennis balls used and brought up the wider issue of using different balls each week.
“I think there were a lot of injuries last year, a lot of players with elbow or shoulder injuries,” he said.
“They need to change something. I know they’re going to change it. Every week, practically every week we have different balls, different conditions, so it’s difficult to adapt to it.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion has already been proven right, as Fritz has now shed light on his latest physical setback.
Taylor Fritz explained how tennis balls caused his latest injury (Image: Getty)
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The American is back in action at this week’s ATP 500 in Dallas – his first appearance since losing in the third-round of the . After winning his opening match against Arthur Rinderknech, Fritz revealed he recently picked up an injury.
“I was trying to recover a bit from an injury, I hurt myself before,” the world No. 4 told Tennis Channel.
“It was my oblique it was caused by the balls that were supposed to be the same as the ones we were using here and the ones we used in Australia, but they just weren’t.”
Explaining how the tennis balls caused an injury, Fritz added: “They were like the deadest balls ever, so I’m just throwing my whole body into every shot I hit, and I think I maybe slightly tore something.
“But I was rehabbing it and trying to get it to play tonight, and it felt pretty good, so I’m happy.”
Fritz has long been outspoken about the issue of switching up the brands of tennis balls used each week on tour. Last year, the eight-time title winner explained why it led to physical problems.
“It’s not so much like the specific ball that injures us. In some cases it is. But it’s more just, you get used to one, and then when you change to something that’s a bit heavier, your wrist or your elbow or whatever is taking the force,” he said.
In 2024, the ATP and WTA also announced they would conduct a review into the different balls used at each tournament.