Overview
- Jessica Pegula used a post‑match press conference at the Washington Open to say the frequent, inconsistent changes in tennis balls are 'crazy' and disrupt player preparation.
- She pointed to differences between manufacturers, production sites, court surface wear and weather as the main reasons balls can feel and play differently from week to week.
- Pegula referenced data tracked by teams and physios that link changes in ball type, such as extra duty versus regular duty, to higher wrist, shoulder and elbow complaints among women players.
- She praised tournaments that have moved toward using Dunlop more often and urged organisers and suppliers to reduce weekly switches and focus on a single, higher‑quality ball.
- The remarks add pressure from a prominent player and WTA Tour Architecture Council president for sport‑wide change after years of similar complaints from top players such as Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic.