US Open: Fast or slow court? Players debate the conditions

The playing conditions at this year’s US Open have sparked debate among tennis players, especially regarding the court speed and the condition of the balls.

Different Perspectives on Court Speed

The lack of consensus among the players is evident. Novak Djokovic pointed out that the court speed has been similar for several years, although he does not remember the exact moment of the change. The US Open is the only Grand Slam that uses different balls for men and women, both of the Wilson brand, but with the “extra duty” ball slightly heavier for men.The court speed and the behavior of the balls can be influenced by factors such as temperature, wind, and humidity, but players’ opinions vary considerably.

The surface is quite fast. The balls don’t fluff up at all. They’re the opposite. They’re becoming rocks. It’s interesting because the more you play, the harder they are, and the less controllable they are.

Daria Kasatkina

The US Open organizers assure that the balls and courts are the same as last year, with a medium-fast speed. However, opinions differ. Alexander Bublik called them “quite fast”, while Alex De Minaur described them as “fast and slippery”.On the other hand, Jordan Thompson expressed a different opinion, feeling that the balls were “really soft” and that the courts were not as fast as in previous years, which generated frustration.Jessica Pegula, for her part, highlighted that some players are more sensitive to the court speed than others. Daria Kasatkina noted that the balls became hard and less controllable as the game progressed.

Craig O’Shannessy, data analyst and coach, suggests that players’ personal preferences influence their perceptions. Perceived speed can vary depending on the playing style and the specific conditions of each court.De Minaur noted that the balls behaved differently in the tournaments prior to the US Open, which caused bewilderment among the players. Djokovic mentioned that he has heard that many players notice a consistency in the balls used in the US Open Series tournaments, which is positive for preventing injuries.O’Shannessy also indicated that the speed of the courts can vary depending on the use they are given. Pegula added that the courts at Flushing Meadows are not all the same, and that the main court, Arthur Ashe, is slower than others.