The 2025 US Open has become a hotbed of discussion among players, with many voicing their opinions on the speed of the courts and the behavior of the tennis balls. While tournament organizers maintain that the conditions remain consistent with previous years, players are far from unanimous in their assessments.

Player Perspectives Novak Djokovic, a seasoned veteran, noted that the court speed has remained relatively stable over the years. "The court speed, I can't recall actually what was the year when it changed, when it started being slightly quicker than what it used to be," he said. "But it's been pretty much the same speed for some years."

However, other players have contrasting views. Alexander Bublik described the courts as "pretty fast," while Alex De Minaur found them "quick and skiddy." On the other hand, Jordan Thompson expressed his frustration, stating, "Usually it's a lot faster. But I wouldn't call these courts fast this year."

Ball Dynamics The US Open is unique in using different balls for the men's and women's events. The men's "extra duty" ball is slightly heavier, which can influence the game's pace. Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 seed, mentioned that some players are more attuned to these nuances than others. "I think some people are really in tune to it maybe too much [and] some people just don't even care," she said.

Daria Kasatkina provided an interesting observation: "The surface is pretty fast. The balls are not fluffing up at all. They're opposite. They're becoming rocks. It's interesting because the more you play, the harder they are, and less controllable they are."

Expert Analysis Craig O'Shannessy, a respected data analyst and coach, highlighted the subjective nature of player assessments. "It's because it's all about their personal preference," he explained. "When they say it's fast, that needs to be prefaced with 'it's fast for them,' or 'it's slow for them.'"

Court Variations Pegula also pointed out that not all courts at Flushing Meadows play the same. "The back courts are a lot faster than Ashe," she said. "Ashe is kind of slow, almost, a little bit. Armstrong always is a little bit faster than Ashe."

Conclusion As the tournament progresses, the debate over court speed and ball dynamics continues to be a focal point. While players may never reach a consensus, their diverse opinions add an intriguing layer to the competition.