r/tennis

Got the job done just before curfew and Coco is into her maiden Wimby QF! For the third match in a row against Belinda, Coco comes out on top in a deciding set. Up next is her compatriot Jpeg who has a 5-3 h2h against her.

Q. Novak, you've always used the slice very effectively on Grass, on backhand side, has it changed over the years in terms of how easy it is to be effective, given the Grass, and changes in technology and things like that ?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: In terms of technology, in which sense ?

Q. Well maybe with strings, [indiscernible] players' passing shots and stuff like that ?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know, I actually had quite a few conversations with players and their coaches in the last 12 months on different tournaments talking about balls. And we all agree that, since COVID, something has changed, the production, manufacturing, facilities in China that are used for basically all the big manufacturers of the balls that we use on the tour. There was a change, no doubt, you know, some material, something has changed that has affected the way the ball reacts nowadays. You know, these balls that we use on the tour, also on the Slams, they get slower, and they were definitely slower in average comparing to say if I go back 10, 15 years ago. Which means the slice isn't staying as low as it was staying earlier. It's still effective, no doubt, because it's Grass, and obviously the surface gets worse every single day when you play on it, so lots of bad bounces and if you are able to hit some chip shots, and short slices or what not, it's actually a very good play. But if you're not super natural with it, it's not so easy to demand that from yourself, but it's super important variety, that you have to, should possess on Grass, no doubt.

https://youtu.be/Y\_y2QMZnrWg?t=128&si=1zGOWPrJfNfArAei

6-2 7-6(2) I mean, sorry haha

https://x.com/DjokovicFan_/status/2073886017543889334