Players Voice Concerns Over Tennis Ball Quality at Indian Wells

Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, and others criticize fluffier balls that are harder to control

Feb. 27, 2026 at 6:33pm

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Tennis players on the ATP and WTA tours have been voicing growing concerns over the quality of tennis balls being used at tournaments this year, with the latest issues arising at the prestigious Indian Wells event. Top players like Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur have complained that the balls are becoming too fluffy and unpredictable, making them difficult to control during matches.

Why it matters

Indian Wells is one of the most important tournaments on the tennis calendar, often referred to as the sport's unofficial fifth Grand Slam. If the ball quality issues persist at such a high-profile event, it could put more pressure on tennis authorities to address player concerns and potentially make changes to ball specifications or replacement protocols.

The details

Several players have spoken out about the ball quality problems, including Medvedev, de Minaur, Arthur Fils, and Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Medvedev was particularly vocal during his first-round match in Rotterdam, shouting that the balls "do not react the same way on your shots, so how do you want us to play tennis?" De Minaur and Fils also criticized the Head balls used in Rotterdam as "terrible" and "very difficult to control." Sasnovich posted a photo on Instagram showing a heavily fluffed-up ball after just 25 minutes of play at Indian Wells.

  • In February 2026, players voiced concerns about ball quality during tournaments on the ATP Tour.
  • Daniil Medvedev criticized the tennis balls used at the Rotterdam tournament in his first-round match.
  • Aliaksandra Sasnovich posted about the ball quality issues during her practice session at the Indian Wells tournament.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

A top-ranked professional tennis player on the ATP Tour who has been outspoken about the poor quality of tennis balls being used in tournaments.

Alex de Minaur

A professional tennis player on the ATP Tour who has also criticized the difficulty in controlling the tennis balls being used in tournaments this year.

Arthur Fils

A professional tennis player on the ATP Tour who has called the tennis balls being used "terrible" and "unbelievable" in their poor quality.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich

A professional tennis player on the WTA Tour who has voiced concerns about the ball quality at the Indian Wells tournament, posting a photo of a heavily fluffed-up ball after just 25 minutes of play.

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What they’re saying

“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?”

— Daniil Medvedev

“I have struggled a lot in practice. I have actually been quite frustrated with the balls in practice, which is not like me. I do get what Daniil says about the balls. They are definitely not my favourite. I don't think they are anyone's favourite balls. They are very difficult to control.”

— Alex de Minaur

“They are terrible. Really terrible. The ball is very bad. It is unbelievable.”

— Arthur Fils

What’s next

Tennis authorities may need to investigate the ball quality issues and consider changes to ball specifications or replacement protocols to address player concerns ahead of major tournaments like Indian Wells.

The takeaway

The growing complaints from top players about tennis ball quality highlights an ongoing issue that could impact the fairness and quality of play at the highest levels of the sport. Finding a solution that satisfies both players and tournament organizers will be crucial to maintaining the integrity of professional tennis.