Rotterdam, Netherlands – Daniil Medvedev’s frustration boiled over during his first-round match at the Rotterdam Open on , not with his opponent Ugo Humbert, but with the tennis balls themselves. The former world No. 1 openly questioned their roundness, claiming they were impacting his ability to play effectively and even suggesting a boycott of the Head Tour XT ball.
The outburst occurred after Medvedev lost the first set against Humbert. He immediately called for the tournament supervisor, initiating a bizarre on-court discussion about the fundamental shape of the equipment. “These tennis balls round, or not round?” Medvedev asked, according to reports. When the supervisor affirmed their roundness, Medvedev remained unconvinced. “It’s a bit strange. So I think maybe we should consider not playing with Head balls,” he stated.
Medvedev didn’t stop there. He went on to criticize the balls’ quality, stating, “The Head Tour XT ball is not round, so we should not playing with it, nobody should be buying it, we should not be promoting a tennis ball that is not round.” He expressed concern about the impact on gameplay, adding, “The problem is when you touch it with the racket, it does not react the same way on your shots, so how do you want us to play tennis?” He then demonstratively tossed the balls aside after the conversation concluded.
This isn’t an isolated incident for Medvedev. He has a well-documented history of voicing his displeasure with ball quality on the ATP Tour. In 2024, during the Shanghai Masters, he complained that only players with exceptional power, like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, could effectively hit through the balls being used. He echoed similar sentiments at the ATP Tour Finals that same year, lamenting that practice and matches had become “a struggle” and expressing a lack of enjoyment on the court.
The complaints extend beyond the feel of the ball. Medvedev has previously linked ball quality to a rise in injuries among players. Following his victory at the ATP Qatar Open in , he suggested that the balls used at the Australian Open that year contributed to a wrist injury he sustained during a match against Frances Tiafoe. He noted a growing trend of elbow, wrist, and shoulder injuries among his peers and posited that the balls were a contributing factor.
While Medvedev’s concerns about player health are noteworthy, his frequent criticisms have drawn mixed reactions from fans. Some sympathize with his struggle to adapt to varying ball conditions, while others find his complaints tiresome. Online reactions, as reported by Sportskeeda, have included calls for him to “do something” instead of repeatedly voicing his dissatisfaction. The timing of this latest outburst, following a slow-court complaint earlier in the Rotterdam tournament, adds to the perception of a player struggling to find his rhythm.
The Rotterdam Open utilizes Head Tour XT balls, a product that has become a standard on the ATP Tour. A representative for Head has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding Medvedev’s claims. Dunlop manufactures the balls used in many ATP tournaments, and Medvedev’s concerns could potentially raise questions about the manufacturing process and quality control.
Medvedev’s outspokenness on this issue highlights a broader debate within the professional tennis community regarding ball standards. Players often face challenges adapting to different ball types at various tournaments, impacting their serve, groundstrokes, and overall game. The consistency of ball quality is a recurring topic of discussion among players and tour officials, with some advocating for greater standardization to ensure a more level playing field and minimize the risk of injury.
The incident in Rotterdam underscores the delicate balance between player preference, tournament sponsorship, and the technical specifications of tennis equipment. While Medvedev’s complaints may seem unusual to some, they reflect a genuine concern about the impact of equipment on the sport’s performance and the well-being of its athletes. Whether his criticism will lead to any tangible changes remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly sparked a conversation about the importance of ball quality in professional tennis.
Despite his frustrations, Medvedev ultimately battled back to win his match against Ugo Humbert, demonstrating his resilience and ability to overcome adversity. However, the lingering question remains: will the tennis balls cooperate for his next match, and will his concerns be addressed by tournament officials or the ball manufacturers?
