As expected, Novak Djokovic was asked this Sunday at the telematic press conference at Roland Garros about the new Wilson balls that will be used for the first time in the tournament. They did so in response to the harsh criticism of Rafa Nadal about the characteristics of some balls that the Balearic Islands consider as “super heavy” as “a stone” and that they are even “dangerous for the health of the players”.
The Serbian did not go that far in assessing this element of the game, although he did acknowledge that balls are “heavy”. “This is the first time that Wilsons have been used on clay. I agree that they are heavy, but probably also heavy. it is because we are almost in October, and it is very cold “, explained the number one in the world, who will debut against the Swede Mikael Ymer on Monday or Tuesday.
“The clay is also heavy and wet. The general conditions affect the ball itself. It is very difficult to tell if it is heavy in general or is it because we are playing low these kinds of slow and heavy conditions, “continued the Balkan, who resigned himself without problems to playing with them:” We have to accept that. That is why we all came a little earlier to try to get used to these new balls and to some conditions which are quite different from what we are used to at Roland Garros. “
Apart from the matter of the balls, although partly related to them, Djokovic spoke about what happened to him at the US Open, where he was disqualified for inadvertently but recklessly hitting a linesman with a ball: “Well obviously I'm going to be very careful when hitting a tennis ball around the court. That's something that obviously sticks in my mind after what happened there. It will be around for a long time. Of course, I'll make sure I don't make the same mistake twice. ” “I am a human being. I have flaws like everyone else. Regardless of how many years and experience you have on tour, these things can still happen. I really want to be my best version as a player and as a person on the pitch, “he added..