French Open Terminates Its Partnership With Babolat as Official Balls Sponsorer

French-based sports equipment company Babolat has officially announced that it will not continue its partnership with French Open from the next season as the clay-court major terminates its partnership with Babolat

Since 2011, Babolat has been the official ball of the Roland Garros. The 144-year-old company created a tennis dance that was specifically created and developed for the French Open, which fulfilled the particular requirements needed on a clay court, both in terms of durability and bounce.

According to the official Roland Garros website,  more than 60,000 balls are used every year during the French Open. The Babolat Roland Garros ball was developed by Babolat and Roland Garros according to very precise standards in order to make the game more vibrant and attractive on the clay court. Hence, Babolat proved their balls were ideal and weather and court conditions at the French Open.

The lively Babolat balls were one of the reasons why Roland Garros witnessed some extraordinary tennis on a slower court in recent years. However, Babolat has decided to end its partnership with the French Open after 8 years. Until 2011, Dunlop supplied the tennis balls to the clay-court major.

According to the Sport Eco magazine, Wilson will replace Babolat as an official balls sponsorer of the Roland Garros from the 2020 season. However, reports also suggest that the Wilson Roland Garros tennis balls will not be released until next year.

Wilson is also an official ball sponsorer for the US Open. However, It is expected that Wilson develops a similar type of Wilson Roland Garros balls like Babolat ones, which are not slower or deader.

It is expected that the conditions at the French Open 2020 may be quite different from its previous editions with the new retractable roof coming in place on the Philippe Chatrier court and the different balls.

Also Read: What Are The Tennis Balls Used at Grand Slams and Masters Tournaments?