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How many tennis balls are used at Roland Garros?

The Roland Garros tournament is one of the most prestigious events in world tennis, bringing together the best players on the Parisian clay courts each year. But behind the intensity of the matches and the players' exploits lies an essential element: the tennis balls. Every year, thousands of balls are used during the tournament to ensure optimal playing conditions. But how many tennis balls are actually used at Roland Garros? This article takes you behind the scenes of ball management during this Grand Slam tournament.

Expert guide Culture

How many balls are used during the tournament?

Each year, approximately 60,000 tennis balls are used during the Roland Garros tournament. This impressive quantity is explained by several factors, including the high number of matches, the duration of clay-court encounters, and strict ball replacement rules.

Ball change rules

At Roland Garros, as in most professional tournaments, balls are regularly changed to ensure quality play. Balls are replaced every 9 games, after an initial change that occurs after the first 7 games. This process helps maintain a consistent bounce and ensures that players always play with balls in good condition.

First 7 games: The balls are changed for the first time after the first 7 games of a match.
Every 9 subsequent games: Thereafter, the balls are changed every 9 games to maintain game quality.

Equipment

Why so many balls?

The duration of matches

Matches at Roland Garros, especially the five-set men's matches, can last several hours. On clay, a relatively slow surface, rallies are longer, which causes faster wear and tear on the balls. It is therefore essential to regularly replace the balls to prevent them from losing performance.

Length of rallies: Balls undergo greater wear due to long and intense rallies.
Abrasive surface: Clay is more abrasive than other surfaces, which wears out balls more quickly.

The different matches and training sessions

The tournament is not limited to simple competitive matches. Balls are also used during players' training sessions. These training balls must be in perfect condition so that players can train in optimal conditions, close to those of matches.

Player training sessions: Players train daily, requiring the use of many balls.
Various match formats: Between men's singles, women's singles, doubles, and juniors, a large number of matches are played throughout the tournament.

The balls used at Roland Garros: Wilson

Since 2020, the official Roland Garros balls are supplied by the Wilson brand. These balls are specially designed to meet the demands of clay court matches, with durability and bounce adapted to the surface.

Special design: The Wilson Roland Garros balls are designed to resist the abrasion of the clay court while offering a consistent bounce.
Responsiveness: They are also known for offering excellent control and good response to spin, essential on this surface.

What happens to the balls after the matches?

Once used, tennis balls at Roland Garros are not simply thrown away. Some of the balls are reused for training sessions, while others are put up for sale for fans and collectors. There are even charitable initiatives that allow these balls to be donated to schools or tennis clubs.

Sale to fans: Balls used during matches are often sold as souvenirs to fans.
Donation to clubs: Some of the balls are also donated to tennis clubs or schools to support the development of the sport.

Ready to take action?

At Roland Garros, nearly 60,000 balls are used each year to meet the demands of clay court matches and ensure optimal playing conditions for the players. Whether for official matches or training sessions, these balls play a crucial role in the smooth running of the tournament. If you wish to play with similar balls, you can find Wilson Roland Garros balls at Extreme Tennis, for a professional playing experience.

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