Fritz points out the big problem in tennis: "The balls are getting slower"
The American doesn't hold back and explodes indignantly at the type of ball being used currently on the professional circuit: "It's very demotivating, I can't train under the same conditions as I compete."
Seeing the discontent of so many players with certain factors within the circuit, it would be normal to think that something is about to change. However, we have been in this situation for some time. The latest to speak out is Taylor Fritz, making a statement pointing directly at the type of ball currently used in competition.
In a recent interview with Tennis Channel, the American shared all his thoughts related to his surprising elimination from the US Open 2026, where he had to pack his bags in the round of 16 after suffering a painful comeback against Fran Cerúndolo. Behind this, although not the main reason, is a problem with the current competition balls, a trend that forces players to compete in longer matches, with all that this entails.
“It’s not so much a problem with the different balls, but not being able to train under conditions similar to those we play in,” explains Fritz. The number of brands and models used throughout the season makes it, according to the American, complicated to maintain continuity. “I can’t get excited about how I’m hitting the ball because as soon as I go to another tournament, we change the ball and I have to relearn how it’s going to come off my racket,” adds the player from Rancho Santa Fe.
The problem became especially evident for Fritz after the US Open. The American explained that he had just played a good tournament and wanted to continue working on specific aspects of his game, but he found completely different balls in the subsequent training sessions. Fritz gave several examples, pointing out that the balls available in stores do not always behave like those used in professional matches and stated that the Dunlop he had tried were, to put it bluntly, “dead.” He also spoke about the different versions of the Wilson balls from the US Open, although he acknowledged that for a long time he hadn’t considered the differences to be so significant.
One ball for training and another ball for competition
The situation reached a point that forced him to order the Yonex balls he will use in Tokyo and Shanghai from the United States, as they were not available for him in U.S. stores. This way he was able to start training with them before traveling to his upcoming commitments. Fritz also related this evolution to a perception that affects the entire circuit. “I don’t think the courts are slower. I think the courts have the same speed as always; it’s just the balls that are slower,” he asserted.
The American, whose game relies heavily on generating power, explained that slow conditions and less lively balls force him to put in extra effort. He even admitted to considering changing his racket or string setup to gain more power. His message, however, was directed specifically at professional tennis. “It’s really frustrating, as a professional, not being able to train under conditions similar to those you will actually play in when it matters,” concluded the current number 10 in the ATP ranking.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fritz señala el gran problema del tenis: “Las pelotas son cada vez más lentas”