Alexander Zverev claims there’s been a ‘very strange’ change happen at the Italian Open which he cannot understand

Alexander Zverev, the defending champion and world No. 2, expressed confusion and frustration over a “very strange” change in the tennis balls used at the 2025 Italian Open, which he claims significantly altered playing conditions. Speaking after his third-round victory over Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas (6-4, 6-0) on May 11, Zverev highlighted the slower ball speed in Rome compared to other clay-court events, despite the balls being from the same manufacturer, Dunlop.

“The balls are much slower this year. I don’t know what they’ve done new with the balls,” Zverev said in his post-match press conference, as reported by The Tennis Gazette. “We’ve been playing with Dunlop balls all clay season. In Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Madrid, we played with extremely fast balls, and it was very, very big. I came here and things are different.” He noted that the slower balls forced him to adjust his racket string tension, lowering it by about three kilograms compared to other clay tournaments. “I’m stringing my racket about three kilos less than anywhere else during the clay court season. That’s what makes it slower. That’s what makes the big difference compared to last year, I think is the ball. Very strange,” he added. Zverev insisted, “It’s possibly the same ball, but it’s not the same ball. There’s no chance in the world that it is,” despite assurances from organizers that the balls were identical.[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/alexander-zverev-claims-theres-been-a-very-strange-change-happen-at-the-italian-open-which-he-cannot-understand/)

This change impacted gameplay, making the Rome courts play slower, which Zverev suggested could affect players’ preparation for the French Open. His comments reignited debates about ball consistency across the ATP tour, with Yahoo Sports noting that Zverev’s frustrations “reignite the debate that ATP should consider using the same balls throughout the calendar year” for a sport where precision is paramount. Posts on X, such as @FS_Tennis1, amplified his concerns, highlighting the ongoing issue of ball variability.[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/alexander-zverev-raises-eyebrows-questioning-182111333.html)

Zverev’s observations came amidst a strong tournament performance, where he eased past Camilo Ugo Carabelli (6-2, 6-1) and Gaubas, setting up a fourth-round clash with Arthur Fils. Despite his irritation, he adapted to the conditions, leveraging his 26-6 career record in Rome, per Sportskeeda. His remarks underscore a broader issue in tennis, as players like Holger Rune also criticized Rome’s court conditions, suggesting the event’s new SuperTennis Arena courts posed injury risks. Zverev’s focus on the ball issue, however, highlights his attention to detail as he aims to defend his title and build momentum for Roland Garros.