Why is Beijing One of the Slowest Tournaments on the ATP Tour?
While Asian tournaments are often associated with fast and offensive conditions, the ATP 500 event in Beijing stands out completely. According to data from Tennis Résumé, only Indian Wells and Los Cabos have slower court speeds than the Chinese capital.
Players feel it from the very first exchanges. "I felt it from the first practice session," shares Carlos Alcaraz. "In just 1 or 2 matches, the ball becomes different from new ones. It's a slightly different game, and you have to get used to it."
And this difference changes everything. Rallies become longer, more physical, and more strategic. The audience sees it as a spectacle. The players, however, struggle to find their rhythm.
"The balls become huge; after two matches, it's almost impossible to hit a winner unless you have a very, very fast hand, like Sinner, Alcaraz, or maybe Grigor Dimitrov," adds Medvedev.
At the heart of this anomaly are the balls used: the Head Tour XT. Known for their speed... under standard conditions. But here in Beijing, they swell up within the first few minutes of play, as highlighted by the X account: "@tennismasterr."
Pékin 
