Iga Swiatek calls out tournaments, reveals 'bigger issue' than constant ball changes

Iga Swiatek says the fixed ball adjustments aren’t really the largest ball-related downside the gamers are going through because the world No. 1 claims the gamers typically don’t get sufficient of match balls for follow. 

Since early 2023, quite a few gamers throughout the ATP and WTA have complained in regards to the fixed ball adjustments, with many blaming that for the elevated variety of accidents. In the beginning of the 2024 season, nothing modified in that facet as there’s a good variety of gamers nonetheless complaining in regards to the fixed ball adjustments. 

However in Indian Wells, four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek went a step additional, claiming that “an even bigger situation” is gamers often not getting sufficient follow balls – which makes it tougher for them to regulate to the ball used at a sure match. 

“For positive, adjusting to the balls, it is crucial factor, and to the floor, it is crucial factor in our sport. The one that’s going to adapt faster goes to play higher,” Swiatek mentioned. 

“We at all times had the Penn balls right here, those we could not actually get to follow. I believe that is the larger situation, that we do not get the match ball. I imply, I believe I received one field.

“So I do not wish to be imply, however often, total, after we have a look at the calendar, often the balls that you will get, there’s going to be a restricted quantity. The professionals use, you recognize, for two-hour follow, I do not know, like six cans at the very least. You are not going to make use of these balls once more, as a result of it’s essential play with the brand new ones.

“Generally we battle with not having sufficient balls, you recognize, to do, I do not know, the entire preseason with AO balls. I believe that is the factor that must be modified first, as a result of it is fairly simple, I believe. We will purchase it, you recognize, there’s simply not sufficient balls for us to have, the match balls (smiling). So not many individuals are conscious that we do not play with the balls that you could see in retailer.”

Swiatek on ‘the a lot completely different’ Indian Wells balls

This week, Emma Raducanu complained that the balls utilized in Indian Wells are “heavy” and completely different from those that they’re going to use in Miami. When making that grievance, Raducanu famous that heavy balls and fixed ball adjustments solely improve the potential of a participant contracting a wrist harm or another harm. 

When complaining in regards to the lack of follow balls, Swiatek additionally talked about that the balls utilized in Indian Wells are particularly tough since they’re “a lot completely different” from the balls utilized in different tournaments. Additionally, the 22-year-old Pole revealed that she is just not positive even when they’re taking part in with the balls utilized by males in Indian Wells. 

“Right here it was at all times fairly tough. The balls had been at all times a lot completely different than in different tournaments,” Swiatek mentioned.

“However I received used to them. I am unsure precisely if we play proper now with males’s ball, as a result of Taylor Fritz originally of the match advised me that he thinks that they play with girls’s. So I am confused. However I do not care. I just like the ball.

“I’d say right here it is extra in regards to the air and the circumstances anyway. So I am doing effective, and there’s no level for me to overanalyze that.”

Swiatek is doing nice in Indian Wells this yr 

The ball circumstances in Indian Wells will not be the most effective however that is not an issue for Swiatek, who has been by to her second remaining within the desert after beating Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 on Friday. 

After Kostyuk served out the opening sport of the match, Swiatek claimed back-to-back breaks within the third and fifth video games en path to successful 5 video games in a row for a 5-1 lead. Within the seventh sport, Kostyuk held to her serve to finish Swiatek’s run of 5 consecutive video games but it surely did not change a lot because the Pole routinely served out for the primary set within the following sport.

Up by a set, Swiatek additionally began the second set with a 4-0 lead earlier than breaking Kostyuk once more within the seventh sport of the second set – when the Ukrainian was serving to remain within the match.

Swiatek, who hasn’t dropped a set to this point this yr in Indian Wells, might be taking part in in opposition to world No. 9 Maria Sakkari for the Indian Wells title on Sunday. The final time these two met occurred in Indian Wells two years in the past – and it was within the remaining – when Swiatek crushed Sakkari 6-4 6-1. 

Sakkari owns a 4-3 head-to-head in opposition to Swiatek however they have not performed in two years and there’s no doubt that the Pole enters the Indian Wells remaining as the favourite.