Men and women will be playing with the same balls at the 2023 US Open – Wilson extra duty tennis ball. The tournament announced the news after getting complaints from female players who were using regular-duty balls until last year.

Though the US Open took a lot of criticism for the ball, it’s the WTA that chooses which balls the women play with. US Open is the only grand tournament that uses different balls for men and women.

After last year’s controversy, USTA President Stacy Allaster asked the players to talk to the WTA and the players’ council and ask for a change of balls at the US Open.

Last year, Swiatek complained that the ball appeared light, saying, “After a few games, really, the conditions are totally changing, because they get more and more light. They’re losing fluffiness. It’s hard to sometimes adjust.”

Women were playing with regular felt balls to reduce arm, elbow, and wrist injuries. But today’s women players are strong and can hit the heavy balls. In fact, the Wilson extra-duty tennis balls are recommended for hard courts by Wilson.