US Open: Inside story on the tennis ball being used at Flushing Meadows
Champions have come and gone at the US Open, but one key element has been present at the final Grand Slam of the tennis year for last four decades.
The name of Wilson has long been synonymous with elite US sports, with basketball and the NFL using balls supplied by the company that has long been a standard bearer of excellence.
Wilson has long prided itself on developing tennis balls for all court surfaces, but early on emerged as an unquestioned leader for beest-in-class hard court tennis ball performance.
When the US Open switched to a hard court surface in 1978, Wilson was a top choice and natural fit for this very reason.
This 2024 US Open ball has been saluted by Novak Djokovic as being one of the best used on the tour and here, we get the inside story on the tennis balls being used by the star names at Flushing Meadows from a Wilson insider:
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!
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 does 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.
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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.
History of the US Open Wilson tennis ball
1983 – Wilson features bright orange, optic yellow, and optic plus (orange & yellow) tennis balls in the early years of its relationship with the US Open. While the tournament strictly used the yellow balls, all three varieties were made available to the public.
1984 – Wilson transitions to a new squeezable pressure packaging, with transparent plastic above and below the label offering consumers glimpses of the balls inside the can.
1990 – After receiving positive consumer feedback stemming from the transparent packaging, Wilson adds a diagonal window to provide even more visibility to the balls inside each can.
1991 – Wilson introduces the new, longer-lasting US Open ball to its line, unveiling can packaging featuring bronze tones on the label. The design and specs of the label remain the same as the existing Championship ball packaging.
1994 – Wilson expands its US Open ball line to include balls specifically designed for various court surfaces: hard court, high altitude, indoor/clay court, and grass court.
1998 – Sporting a new black label for the first time, the US Open packaging features the widely popular ball and flame logo that cemented its legacy around the tournament for nearly 20 years.
2008 – Wilson returns to a more transparent look, providing consumers with a window that showcases the top performing tennis ball in the game. This can also highlights Wilson as ‘#1 in Tennis’ – due to the brand’s considerable success across product categories.
2014 – This can features the ‘ticket label’ design, which allows consumers to see a somewhat opaque view of the tennis balls from many different angles.
2018 – Sporting a brand new tournament logo and can design, this year’s US Open ball packaging delivers a clean, premium look with twisting lines and a sharp gold ‘W’ to top it off.