" I mean they're awful....the heaviest balls in the world": American trio Fritz, Pegula and Tiafoe left bemused and critical at DC Open Washington balls
Tennis NewsSaturday, 05 August 2023 at 20:00
The
American Stars Criticize Tennis Balls at Citi Open, Including Taylor Fritz,
Frances Tiafoe, and Jessica Pegula.
The
top-ranked American players have been critical of the tennis balls being used
at the Citi Open this week. On the men's side, Fritz reached the semifinals and
is the last remaining American in the draw, making him the favorite to lift the
trophy.
Following
his match against Australian Jordan Thompson, Fritz expressed his criticism of
the heavy tennis balls.
"These
balls, I mean they're awful....the heaviest balls in the world."
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"Yeah,
it was a war. Just with how these balls are, they're so, like, just slow dead,
it's really tough to, like, finish points. You're going to just inevitably have
these really long, physical rallies."
On the
men's side as well, Tiafoe didn't have the same luck as Fritz and fell in the
quarterfinals against Dan Evans. The world No. 10 had played earlier against
Shang Juncheng, but couldn't maintain the pace in the evening match against the
British player.
"I
feel all right. It was really muggy out there. I think the balls help him a
lot. They are quite fluffy this week, so it's tough to hit through them. He's
able to play his game quite nicely. It was hard, man. I mean, obviously, it's
not really an excuse, he did the same thing as me. He stayed late last night,
whatever, and he won a pretty convincing match earlier in the day."
"The
balls are a bit puffy here. Slower conditions, which helps him with the slice
and stuff, slowing me down. Yeah, definitely makes it more physical."
In the
women's draw, Jessica Pegula also joined the criticism after her challenging
encounter against Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
"Yeah, it was tricky. It was swirling there in the stadium. The balls
felt kind of heavy."
"But,
yeah, I'm glad that I did (arrived early), because the balls are a ball I have
never played with before. It definitely took me a few days to, like, adjust my
tension and get used to the conditions. So that kind of worked out."
Pegula will
face Maria Sakkari for a spot in the DC Open final, and there could be an
all-American final if Coco Gauff defeats Ludmila Samsonova in the second
semifinal.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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