In March, former world number one Andy Roddick played an exhibition doubles match against Argentine tennis legends Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman.
Roddick, a former world number one, took part in the exhibition ahead of the inaugural Latin America Open: an ATP 100 Challenger event held at the São Paulo Jockey Club in Brazil.
Roddick played alongside Fernando Meligeni – a Brazilian former French Open semi-finalist in singles.
Reflecting on the exhibition, Roddick has expressed his displeasure at the tennis balls used,, branding them as ‘horrible.’
Andy Roddick hammers ‘horrible’ Dunlop balls
“They gave us the Dunlop balls, so they gave us whatever the challenger was using,” Roddick [pictured below] said on the Served Podcast.
“I don’t often like to throw strays unnecessarily but they are unusable. They are terrible.
“The seam on the ball, where you have the felt and the seam should look level. The rounded edges should be continuous and at least predictable. But there were bumps, nodules and it blows up quickly.
“If this is what Medvedev and all these people are talking about, they are absolutely right.
“Even the seams and where they use the glue is uneven. It’s horrible. We are not trying. My mind goes to I understand the business side of it, but there has to be some sort of quality control.
| Player | Career-high singles ranking | Career highlights |
| Andy Roddick | 1 | 2003 US Open champion, three-time Wimbledon finalist |
| Juan Martin del Potro | 3 | 2009 US Open champion, 2016 Olympic silver medalist, 2016 Davis Cup champion |
| Diego Schwartzmann | 8 | French Open semi-finalist, US Open quarter-finalist |
| Fernando Meligeni | 25 | French Open semi-finalist |
“There has to be something. It was shocking.”
This is not the first time a complaint has been issued about Dunlop balls used on the ATP Tour.
In early March, Daniil Medvedev issued a strong complaint about the Dunlop tennis balls being used at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
As per Sky Sports, he said: “Last two games before they change the balls, the balls are like apples,” said Medvedev. “They are so, so big. You’re kind of playing like padel.
“You hit the ball, whoever hits it with an angle… you don’t feel like you’re controlling the game anymore.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“In Doha and here, I felt like every time… two or three games with new balls, then the game becomes slower.”
“My game was 6-4, 6-2 and it was like one hour 40 minutes which is almost a nonsense, to be honest. It’s because the serve doesn’t count as much and it’s long points.”
Despite his complaints, Medvedev went on to win the Dubai Tennis Championships, winning the final after Tallon Griekspoor’s withdrawal.
In February, Medvedev also complained about the HEAD tennis balls being used at the Rotterdam Open, saying they were ‘not round.’
Who won the Latin America Open?
The inaugural event was won by third-seeded Argentine Román Andrés Burruchaga.
The Argentine, currently ranked 77th on the ATP Tour, defeated compatriot Alex Barrena and Juan Carlos Prado Ángelo on his way to the final.
In the championship showpiece, Burruchaga defeated talented Portuguese youngster Jaime Faria 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
The result marked Burruchaga’s fourth ATP Challenger singles title, and his fifth overall.
This week, the 24-year-old is set to compete at the Houston Open: an ATP 250 event.
Burruchaga is scheduled to play his opening match against Australia’s Adam Walton on Tuesday.
