Spanish tennis player Pablo Carreno-Busta, currently ranked 99th in the world, has suggested that the frequent changes of tennis balls between tournaments could be a significant factor in player injuries, particularly elbow problems.
“My doctor once mentioned that the constant switching of balls from tournament to tournament is detrimental to players, and I think it’s true. We are seeing a lot of elbow issues among players these days,” Carreno-Busta stated.
He added, “I’ve been told my elbow doesn’t appear too bad in scans, but it’s different for everyone. Some might have worse scan results and feel no pain. Last year, in 2023, when I was practicing with Roland Garros balls to prepare for the Paris tournament, my elbow swelled up again after just half an hour. Balls definitely play a role, though I can`t definitively say if they are the primary cause of these problems, or if it’s simply the accumulation of years playing.”
Carreno-Busta underwent elbow surgery in November 2023. As of April 14th, he has returned to the top 100 in the ATP rankings.
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