As the head of the PTPA, Novak Djokovic addresses the latest issue coming to the forefront of tennis: the balls.

For years and years, the ball manufacturer can change week-to-week and this year many are complaining they are causing injuries and ailments.

Speaking to the press today at the Paris Masters, Djokovic agreed it’s a problem.

“This inconsistency is an issue, and that’s what most of the players, and also of course including myself, we complain about,” Djokovic said. “I think there needs to be a bit more consistency with the balls so that we avoid any kind of issues with wrists and elbows and shoulders.

“As I understood, there is going to be some board meetings happening soon where they will discuss the different options and things they could do,” he added. “But I think overall, it’s just, it would be nice for players that there is a consistency. So, for example, if you have a clay court swing prior to Roland Garros, that you play with the same ball. As well as other surfaces and other swings.

“Hopefully that’s going to be the case. There’s obviously a lot of factors that are going to be in play in order to make this change. It’s not easy because you have to think about the tournaments and the brands, you know, manufacturing facilities that are owned by the brands or some use as a third party.

“So there is a lot of different elements in play that need to be discussed commercially but also functionally for us. But for the players obviously we are not thinking too much about commercial aspect as much as the functional and what is important for us in order to improve or prevent any kind of issues with injuries.”

Imagine if the NBA used a different ball. Or baseball, or the NFL. In tennis, Sebastian Korda told Djokovic he’s used five different balls in five weeks!

“Actually, Korda, the player that I practiced with today, told me that this is fifth tournament now in a row that he’s been playing with different balls,” Djokovic said.