Shortly before the start of the tournament, the debate about the different balls for men and women at the US Open came up again.

The former Spanish tennis pro Alex Corretja has backed top players like Iga Swiatek (Poland) or Paula Badosa (Spain), who criticized the regulation at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year as no longer up to date.

The players nowadays would "hit so hard that they need a little more control," Corretja told Eurosport: "As a player you have to have a feel for the game. I think they should consider that maybe they can just use the same for next season Play ball." It makes "no sense to have different balls".

"The women's ball is a little easier to play"

The world number one Swiatek had previously argued in a similar way. "I've heard a lot of players complain about it because we have different balls than the men," the 21-year-old said recently. The women's balls would "fly like crazy" because of the characteristics. In view of the physical development in women's tennis, this is no longer up to date. "We have a really strong game today. It's not like it was ten years ago," said the Pole.

The women's game ball during the US Open is a little less fluffy, but more aerodynamic thanks to a tighter weave at the ball seam. "The women's ball plays a little easier, is less heavy on the racket and flies a little easier through the air," said Christopher Kas, coach of Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier, of the ARD sports show: "As a result, players sometimes have the feeling that the ball is more difficult to control."

In the three other Grand Slam tournaments, men and women play with the same balls. The US Open starts this Monday.