"Time for the WTA to rethink": Eva Lys becomes latest player to criticize ball changes on Tour

WTA
Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 14:33
eva lys

Eva Lys has become the latest player to criticize the WTA and ATP's constant ball changes between tournaments, after complaints from Paula Badosa and Taylor Fritz among many others.

Lys was competing at the Hana Bank Korea Open in Seoul, South Korea, when she was forced to retire due to injury. The German player had moved past her first-round opponent Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in straight sets to set up a clash with fourth seed Marie Bouzkova in the Round of 16 at the WTA 250 tournament. 

However, she was unable to complete the match and pulled out while her opponent was leading 6-1 in the opening set. Lys then took to Instagram to explain that shoulder pain was the reason for her departure, which she suggested was at least partially caused by the WTA's ball changes.

Lys asks WTA to rethink its approach to ball changes

"Unfortunately I had to retire today due to shoulder pain. I have been feeling amazing on court- which makes todays outcome even more sad," Lys wrote on her Instagram story.

"I think it is time for @wta to rethink the ball change throughout the tournaments. Adjusting every week has been really tough on alot of players," the 21-year-old added.

"I will try my best to recover as fast as I can. Hopefully I will see you in Cluj," she concluded.

This criticism comes after former World No. 2 Badosa, who has missed a large part of this season due to injury, added her voice to those calling out the ATP and the WTA for their use of ball changes. She was responding to a post by Portuguese player Gastao Elias, who demanded that the ATP pay for physiotherapy required for injuries caused by ball changes.

"The issue is not only ATP unfortunately… With the WTA we are having the same problems for years as well. We need a change from both sides," she wrote.

Prior to this, World No. 8 Fritz also blamed his wrist issues on the ball changes on Tour.

"Have been dealing w wrist issues since beginning of USO series cause of ball changes. we went 3 different balls in 3 weeks," he commented.

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