All You Need to Know About the Tennis Balls at French Open 2021

As the qualifying rounds at French Open 2021 have begun, the top players have started assembling in the French capital, Paris. This is the season’s second Grand Slam event and all the players are excited to compete for this honor. The main draw will begin on Sunday, May 30. 

Since every discussion in tennis is currently about the Roland Garros, let’s take a closer look at the tennis balls which will be in use at the Grand Slam.

Starting from last year, Roland Garros has signed a deal with Wilson to use their product during the entire event. Besides tennis balls, they have become the stringing partner as well. 

Roland Garros tied up with Wilson in 2020

Wilson will be supplying a brand new high-performance tennis ball, specially designed for the French Open. The French Tennis Federation and Wilson have teamed up to collaborate on products such as tennis balls, racquet strings, and other accessories. 

Speaking about the tennis balls, they are approved by the ITF for competitive play. The ball comprises 100%  natural rubber, which helps in maintaining maximum consistency and resiliency. It maintains durability and consistent performance on clay court surfaces. 

However, since the new Wilson balls were introduced last season, players were not too pleased with the introduction. They found the balls to be heavy, and the bounce was relatively lower compared to the balls used in the previous editions. Players such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were firm critics. 

Wilson balls will be used for the second year at the French Open 2021

Prior to the use of Wilson balls, the tournament was conducted using balls made by Babolat. It was a trusted product, and as it was designed ideal for conditions on a clay court, players did not complain. Only time will tell if Wilson has made modifications to the balls that were used last year. 

Also Read: “Clay is Probably Not Where They’re Going to Win”: Tennis Legend Reveals the Reason for Roger Federer and Serena Williams Playing at French Open 2021

Wilson is one of the biggest brands in the tennis world. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how players react to the tennis balls used at this year’s event.