Carlos Alcaraz shares one major problem with Miami Open: "It was difficult to adapt"

Carlos Alcaraz has become the latest player to show his displeasure for the playing conditions at the Miami Open including the balls in particular which continue to stir up heavy debate among players angling for change.

Although the courts at Indian Wells were seen as slow, the Miami Open which is usually a lot quicker has gone even slower. Alcaraz managed to defend his title at Indian Wells, but others have to find differing solutions to the ongoing issue on the courts of Florida. He explained the issue after defeating Roberto Carballes Baena and shared his discomfort at the only problem he faces at the Miami Open.

“At Indian Wells it was much higher. Probably the court is faster, but the ball goes slower," said Alcaraz.

“That’s different. The balls become bigger after just one game. Is crazy. New balls go super fast, then after one game super slow. It was difficult to adapt in that way. But, yeah, the first game, it’s crazy, then it’s super slow.”

WTA World No.5 Jessica Pegula was among those to confirm this in her post match press conference. “The conditions are just night and day, and throwing a totally different ball when you’re already having to change your tension and all this stuff on top of that… It’s not ideal,” she said.

“I’ve gone through like 20 (string) tensions in practice. We’re all feeling the same thing.”

She added: “I would just rather have a consistent ball… because you can’t keep every court the same, it’s impossible. If we could just at least keep the same ball every single week, then we could at least get a handle on that variable.

“There are other changing variables that we can just let go, but when you’re constantly switching with all of them, it makes it really tough.”