Aryna Sabalenka thrilled with faster court surfaces ahead of Indian Wells

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has expressed her admiration for the newly installed surfaces at Indian Wells, as the Belarusian feels that the quicker courts will complement her aggressive playing style.

In contrast, Carlos Alcaraz has voiced his confusion regarding the rationale behind this alteration.

Historically recognized for its rough, slow hard courts, Indian Wells has undergone resurfacing this year by Laykold, the same company responsible for the surfaces at the Miami Open and U.S. Open, aiming to enhance the consistency of playing conditions.

"I love them (the courts). They're a little bit faster, which is good for me, right?" Sabalenka told reporters on Tuesday.

"It feels good so far. I'll tell you later after my first match. I hope I'll still like it," she added with a smile.

Another big server, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, said she had not noticed a huge change when she practised on them.

"I feel that it's not much faster, but I will say maybe the bounce (is) a little bit lower," said Rybakina, the 2023 champion.

"The past few days were very windy and a lot of sun came, so it's also a bit different, the bounce. But I think the court's still nice."

The rapid courts are intended to benefit players with powerful serves; however, they may pose challenges for competitors such as two-time defending champion Alcaraz, who depends more on his inventive shot-making abilities than on raw strength.

The Spaniard reached the Southern California desert late on Monday and mentioned that he had not yet had the opportunity to test the courts.

"The court is faster, right? I don't know," he told reporters.

"Honestly, it's a change that I didn't understand when I saw it. It was 25 years the tournament, it was the same court, and then right now has changed. I don't know the reason why they did it," he said.

"I don't know. I have to practise on it. I consider myself a player who adapts very well my game on the surfaces and all the conditions that you're playing on."

SportsLigue