There have been stories all over the internet where journalists go to retail stores in search of tennis balls.
A quick trip to the Target on Monument Rd. confirmed that Target had no tennis balls. A representative from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Downingtown, Pa. said in an interview with The Hawk that their store is also missing balls.
Due to shipping delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a shortage of tennis balls in the U.S. This delay has impacted every part of the tennis community, including those competing at the collegiate level.
According to Ian Crookenden, head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams at St. Joe’s, there is a tangible difference in the quality of balls that the team has been using.
“The balls have been worn a little bit more than we would like,” Crookenden said.
Tennis balls only last about three to four sessions of playing. Eshan Kanetkar, a graduate student on the men’s tennis team, said that the shrinkage in the supply of tennis balls has affected the way players have to approach their swings.
“It means we have to hit the ball a little bit harder,” Kanetkar said. “Most balls die out, they start bouncing a little less [but] we just keep swinging at them.”
Even with the players making adjustments, the shortage has had a significant impact on crucial points during live action.
“We’ve played tournaments where they haven’t been able to provide a fresh can of balls for every set, which is the rule.” Crookenden said. “It’s affected play in the second and tiebreaker sets.”
According to assistant coach Marc Pibernat, tennis balls have been used as an entry fee for multiple tournaments that the team has played in.
“The entry fee for the Villanova tournament is a case of balls [that] every team brings” Pibernat said. “I told Brad [Adams] from Villanova that I was not going to be able to actually provide him [with balls] until later during the semester because we didn’t have any.”
Fresh balls, that is. Crookenden said that some of the team’s old tennis balls are carried into the new season.
“We always try to maintain an inventory for the start of the season [with] what’s left over from last year,” Crookenden said. “We had about eight boxes left over.”
According to Kanetkar, having a smaller team has been helpful in conserving their tennis balls.
“We have a smaller team [this season]. So we don’t really need as many new balls,” Kanetkar said. “We can make do with just opening a couple cans at a time.”
Pibernat said they were fortunate enough to receive a shipment of tennis balls, because players eventually would have to start buying their own balls.
“It didn’t get to that point because we received a shipment,” Pibernat said. “But we were about to go down that road.”
According to Crookenden, the shortage of balls appears to be nearing its end.
“I think it’s gonna ease up this month,” Crookenden said. “Their supply line is starting to come out.”
