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Senior Iga Swiatek took aim at the US Open organizers this week, criticizing the tournament for using different balls for the men’s and women’s competitions.
Swiatek, who exited the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, raised the issue with reporters at a press conference a day earlier, saying she wasn’t “comfortable” using the lighter balls.
Iga Swiatek of Poland vies against Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove of the Netherlands during their Wimbledon 2022 second round match at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2022 in London. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I don’t know why they’re different than the men’s,” she told ESPN.
“I don’t know, maybe 15 years ago women had some elbow injuries because the balls were heavier and they swapped them for women’s balls, but right now we’re so well prepared physically that I don’t think it would happen.”
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Swiatek said when she’s training at home for the US Open, she uses balls meant for the men’s tournament, adding that she’s raised the issue at the WTA.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek makes her return in a women’s singles match against Croatia’s Jana Fett at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
“I stopped really pushing and trying to convince the WTA because the war happened in Ukraine and I went back to focusing on something else,” she said. “Yes, but to be honest, every tournament I’ve played with these balls I’ve never felt comfortable.”
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Amy Binder, WTA senior vice president of global communications, told ESPN in a statement that the organization was reviewing the issue after “a select number of athletes” raised concerns.
“The reason for using the regular felt ball was because it reduces the risk of arm, shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries,” Binder said. “We will continue to monitor this and continue to discuss this with both our athletes and our sports science teams.”
Iga Swiatek of Poland vies against Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove of the Netherlands during their Wimbledon 2022 second round match at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2022 in London. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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The US Open is the only major to use different balls for men’s and women’s competitions. The main draw at the US Open begins August 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Paulina Dedaj is a digital reporter for Fox News and Fox Business. Follow Paulina Dedaj on Twitter at @PaulinaDedaj. If you have a tip, you can email Paulina at [email protected]