Inside story on the Wilson tennis ball set to be used at the French Open

The French Open is about to get underway in Paris and the ball that will be used by the game’s modern day greats at Roland Garros will be a crucial part of the story.

The Wilson Roland Garros tennis ball continues the brand’s long tradition of high-performance tennis balls at the sport’s highest peaks.

With a core designed for longer rallies and a felt that limits moisture and dirt build-up for maximum consistency during tight points, the Wilson Roland Garros ball creates the perfect performance fit for the clay court season.
We spoke to the Wilson technical team about what goes into making the perfect ball for a clay court and here are their exclusive comments.

What makes up the perfect tennis ball?

Wilson: A high-quality core with limited or no fillers, premium woven felt, and a whole lot of love!

Tell us about the development of the Wilson Roland-Garros ball?

Wilson: The Roland Garros tennis ball was developed in collaboration with the French Tennis Federation (FFT). We tested several different felts with different finishings in blind testing to determine which ball was the favourite among players.

What technology goes into making a Wilson tennis ball?

Wilson: The tennis ball goes through three different compression mould phases – the first to mould the half-shell, the second to mould and pressurize the core, and the third to adhere the felt. Selecting the felt is where a lot of the play characteristics come from. There is an incredible amount of technology that goes into the entire production process, from felt to core. Once we have a concept and have gone through the processes of making a tennis ball- we are continually testing – existing and new concepts – we are always trying to learn and improve.

How is a clay court ball different to the US Open ball?

Wilson: The clay court ball has a very different feel than a hard court ball. The clay court ball has more texture to it and will fluff a little more. This will lead to a ball that plays a bit more dynamic with the court surface compared to a hard court.

Do ex-players or current players have an input into the development of tennis balls?

Wilson: Yes! We work to get a very diversified scope of player feedback – all the way from the recreational level to the pro level.

Should we look at better ways to recycle tennis balls?

Wilson: We should always be looking for new and creative ways to recycle tennis balls. RecycleBalls has done a tremendous job in the States collecting and recycling old balls. We are always looking at new ways for sustainable practices and we want to be at the forefront of this from a tennis brand perspective. Additionally, balls can find a new life in classrooms, nursing homes, and dog parks. But there are still plenty of used tennis balls to go around for new ways to recycle.

Having been Roland-Garros’ official ball and stringer supplier since 2020, Wilson Sporting Goods Co., the world’s leading racket sports brand, has launched a limited-edition collection of tennis rackets, accessories and equipment for Roland-Garros fans and clay-court tennis players:

ROLAND-GARROS BLADE 98 (16X19) V8 TENNIS RACKET

Aggressive, precise ball-strikers will appreciate the feel and torsional stability of this Wilson tennis racket. It has all the features and specs of our Blade 98 16×19 v8 with a design inspired by Roland-Garros. The main appeal lies in the frame layup, which accommodates the modern, vertical swing path common to competitive players. FORTYFIVE° increases both the flexibility and stability of the frame to lend supreme feel for the ball on every shot.

ROLAND-GARROS CLASH 100L V2 TENNIS RACKET

This Wilson tennis racket takes the playability of our Clash 100 v2 and combines it with a design inspired by the world’s biggest clay court tournament. The Roland-Garros Clash 100 offers flexibility and stability thanks to the patented FORTYFIVE° construction. We’ve rebuilt the tip of the hoop, widening the sweet spot and improving stability at the top of the stringbed. The result? A stylish all-rounder.