Rafael Nadal has lashed out at the Australian Open over the official Dunlop balls that will be used at the 2023 tournament, saying they are a “worse quality without a doubt” compared to 2022.
A year on from his sensational triumph at Melbourne Park, where he won his second Australian Open title with an epic five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev, the 36-year-old enters the first grand slam of the new year as the number one seed.
But the Spanish legend has struggled in recent weeks, losing to both Australia’s No. 24 Alex de Minaur and Britain’s No. 14 Cameron Norrie in the United Cup in Sydney, as well as a practice match defeat to world No. 11 Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday.
All of those matches were using Dunlop’s new official AO ball – and Nadal is far from happy.
Speaking to media on Saturday in Melbourne, he said he had no problems with the court surface in Melbourne, but the ball was a different story.
“No, the speed of the court I think (is) not big difference. The ball, yes. I don’t know.
“They say (it) is the same, but the ball is worse quality, without a doubt. We can’t talk about that any more. It’s what we have. We need to play with it.
“I think it’s a ball that doesn’t get the same spin as usual. After a couple of hits, the ball loses the pressure. It’s more difficult to hit with the right spin. But I think it’s easier to play when you play flatter on the shots.”
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Nadal is known for his high-spin style, meaning he is at a significant disadvantage with a ball that spins less.
Nevertheless, the 22-time Grand Slam champion says he is up for the challenge.
“I need to live with it,” he added. “I think I practised enough with the ball to be ready for it.”
The Australian Open is the only Slam to use Dunlop balls, with the French and US Opens both using Wilson and Wimbledon using Slazenger balls.
Nadal also shook off his recent run of defeats, having lost six of his last seven tournament matches.
He said in his pre-tournament press conference Saturday: “My personal momentum is not bad, I tell you. I am good and happy. I’m practising well. Then I need to win a couple of matches.
“If that can happen here – I hope. If don’t, I going to keep working to make that happen as soon as possible … I think I am in an improvement moment that I have been better and better every single week. I feel faster in the legs. I feel playing better with more confidence. The last three weeks of preparation here have been very positive from my point of view”
He added: “I would love to arrive here with a couple of victories, yes. That didn’t happen, so I need to accept that, need to live with it. The rest of the parts of my game that I have been working with, I am quite happy and I feel ready, in terms of trying to play a very good tennis on Monday. Then I need to make that happen and I’m going to fight for it.”
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Nadal begins his title defence from 2:30pm AEDT on Monday, January 16, against rising 21-year-old Brit Jack Draper.
