Nadal hits out at 'worse quality' Aus Open ball

1 year ago 46

Reigning Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal has denounced "worse quality" balls acceptable to beryllium utilized astatine this year's tournament.

The Spaniard claimed the Dunlop balls were antithetic to those utilized successful 2022, contempt reassurances from organisers that they are unchanged twelvemonth connected year.

Speaking to the media connected Saturday, Nadal said the velocity of the tribunal astatine Melbourne Park was fine, but the balls were mediocre erstwhile compared to past year.

"No, the velocity of the court, I think, (is) not (a) large difference. The ball, yes," helium said.

"I don't know. They accidental (it) is the same, but the shot is worse quality, without a doubt.

"We can't speech astir that anymore. It's what we have. We request to play with it.

"I deliberation it's a shot that doesn't get the aforesaid rotation arsenic usual. After a mates of hits, the shot loses the pressure. It's much hard to deed with the close spin. But I deliberation it's easier to play erstwhile you play flatter connected the shots."

Known for his high-spin playing style, Nadal believes helium has done capable to hole and adjusted to the caller balls up of his first-round lucifer against Jack Draper.

"I request to unrecorded with it," helium said.

"I deliberation I (have) practised capable with the shot to beryllium acceptable for it."

The Australian Open is the lone large wherever Dunlop supplies the balls. Roland-Garros and the US Open some usage Wilson, portion Wimbledon uses Slazenger.

Speaking connected his first-round lucifer against Draper, helium said helium expected a pugnacious duty to commencement his Australian Open defence.

Draper made it arsenic acold arsenic the semi-finals astatine Adelaide International 2, falling to Kwon Soon-woo successful a Centre Court thriller.

"Of course, astir apt 1 of the toughest archetypal rounds possible, being seeded," Nadal said of Draper.

"Young, powerful, increasing precise accelerated connected the ranking, playing well. So, astir apt a large situation for maine astatine the opening to commencement the tournament.

"Let's see. I americium conscionable present to springiness myself a chance. I cognize helium is playing good and helium has a batch of affirmative things and astir apt a large vocation successful beforehand (of him), but I anticipation to beryllium acceptable to combat for that archetypal round, and let's spot what tin happen."

Nadal has been connected the receiving extremity of immoderate daze losses lately.

He began 2023 astatine the United Cup wherever helium mislaid to Cameron Norrie and past Alex De Minaur.

That led to questions astir his aboriginal and whether helium mightiness look to retire, but helium rapidly brushed those questions off.

A finals berth astatine the Australian Open and a accidental to spell back-to-back mightiness quell immoderate of that speculation.

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