By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, August 18, 2023
Iga Swiatek is an agent of change. It is created a sore spot for Ons Jabeur.
World No. 1 Swiatek was amongst a number of high gamers advocating the US Open change from the Wilson US Open common responsibility felt ball ladies have used for the previous decade to the Wilson US Open further responsibility felt ball the boys use.
Allaster: US Open Ball is in WTA’s Courtroom
In response, Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open complied and are giving Swiatek and others the ball they wished. Girls are taking part in with the Wilson US Open further responsibility felt ball in Cincinnati this week and can trial the ball on the US Open, which begins on August twenty eighth.
US Open finalist Jabeur is not a fan of the ball. Jabeur, joking she hopes “Iga is completely satisfied,” mentioned the ball feels heavier, provides her a sore shoulder and nonetheless flies.
“Yeah, my shoulder is so sore,” Jabeur mentioned with a smile. “I do not know why Iga and the others wished to alter, to be trustworthy with you. I hope Iga is completely satisfied (smiling).
“No, however they’re totally different, yeah. For positive they’re heavier. I am not fairly positive — it is flying, like, the ball continues to be flying. I am undecided what is the distinction in there.”
Final summer season, Swiatek said blunt dissatisfaction with the Wilson US Open common responsibility felt ball although she went on to seize the US Open championship taking part in with a ball she detests.
“Actually, I do not like them,” Swiatek mentioned earlier than the 2022 US Open. “I’ve heard many gamers truly complaining, as effectively. Lady gamers, as a result of we have now totally different balls than males. I do know it sounds bizarre, however principally the factor is that they’re lighter. They fly like loopy. “You understand, we have now actually highly effective video games proper now. … Proper now we play highly effective, and we sort of cannot loosen up our palms with these balls. I do know that there are lots of gamers who complain, and plenty of of them are high 10.”
So what’s the way forward for the Wilson US Open further responsibility felt ball on the Flushing Meadows main?
US Open Event Director and former WTA Chief Stacey Allaster instructed the media in a Zoom name, the match will use regardless of the ball the WTA decides it desires.
“Proper now it is a trial,” Allaster mentioned. “The WTA is polling the gamers. They have been taking part in with the ball in Canada and Cincinnati. We’ll count on the WTA to inform us on the finish of the 2023 US Open in the event that they’d prefer to proceed with the Wilson Further Obligation or they like to return to the common felt balls.
“100% within the athletes’ resolution. We’re completely satisfied to do regardless of the athletes need because it pertains to the ball. So is our very long time, 45-year associate Wilson.”
Photograph credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport
#Hope #Iga #Pleased
