In a world where every millisecond, every heartbeat, and every movement is measured, professional sport rarely pauses to consider the invisible factors that affect performance—especially hair loss. That’s the message behind The Bald Tennis Ball, an unconventional and thought-provoking campaign launched this month in Spain by Olympic tennis medalist Anabel Medina and the specialist dermatology clinic IMR, in collaboration with creative agency Kids.
The campaign features a tennis ball with a bald patch—a striking, silent metaphor for the silent struggle of alopecia. Delivered to professional WTA players in canisters with two standard balls and one “bald” one, the visual instantly resonates. One in three women will experience some form of alopecia during their lifetime, yet the condition remains under-discussed, particularly in elite sports.
Factors such as high physical stress, extreme sun exposure, tight hairstyles, sweat, hats, and elastic bands all contribute to weakening hair follicles—daily realities for athletes that often go unnoticed until the effects become visible and disruptive.
The players' reactions to the balls were telling. Some smiled, others seemed uneasy. But all acknowledged the disruption the “bald” ball created in their rhythm. As one athlete simply stated, “It feels weird. I wouldn’t use it.” That discomfort is the very point. Alopecia, too, feels foreign, isolating, and sometimes even shameful.
Anabel Medina, now a coach and advocate for athlete wellness, stressed the importance of the issue: “Mental health is fundamental. If you're insecure, it affects your game. You need full concentration to compete, and something like hair loss can be a real distraction. From now on, I’ll be much more conscious of this when training and preparing players.”
To go beyond symbolism, each WTA player involved in the campaign also received a complimentary consultation with a dermatologist specialized in hair health for athletes. Because awareness alone doesn’t win the match—prevention and treatment are essential.
The Bald Tennis Ball is more than just a clever visual—it’s a rallying cry. It calls on the world of sports to treat hair health as part of a comprehensive performance plan, just like sun protection or injury prevention. And by placing that message right in the hands of professional players, the campaign ensures it won’t go unnoticed.
This campaign, published in June 2025, is part of a broader push to bring hair health out of the shadows. Created by Kids Advertainment for IMR, it boldly opens a conversation that’s long been missing in women’s sports. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that real confidence on the court begins long before the first serve.
