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How often are tennis balls changed at US Open?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 24, 2026

After every nine games, the balls are changed. Grand Slams often see long tense matches and so a lot of balls are used.

How often do they change tennis balls at US Open?

The tennis balls in Grand Slams, ATP and WTA tournaments are changed after seven games and after every nine games thereafter.

Do they reuse tennis balls at US Open?

Unfortunately, very few of the tennis balls used in America are recycled – less than half a per cent, according to ball recycler Retour Tennis – which annually results in over 100 million tennis balls being sent to US landfills.

Does US Open use different balls?

According to the United States Tennis Association, the balls — manufactured by Wilson — are identical in every respect except for the yellow felt coating. “Men and women use the same ball in terms of size, pressure and design,” according to a USTA statement.

What does the US Open do with used tennis balls?

L'Opération collects balls and turns them into coatings for sports hall floors. Collected balls are sent to a milling company where they are ground down and rubber is separated from the outer fabric by a 'blowing process'.

30 related questions found

How often change balls Australian Open?

Six new balls are used for the five-minute warm-up and the first seven games, with six new balls provided every nine games thereafter.

How many tennis balls do they use at the US Open?

The Number of Balls used in the US Open

After every nine games, the balls are changed. Grand Slams often see long tense matches and so a lot of balls are used. Approximately 70000 tennis balls are used in the US Open.

Why are US Open tennis balls different?

They're both the same size—Type 2—but the regular-duty balls are a little sleeker, with shorter fibers, and play a little faster by consequence. There's the rub. Because of the longer fibers, extra-duty balls have greater potential to be bashed around in use, making the fuzzy felt even fluffier.

Why do pro tennis players reject balls?

Newer tennis balls have smoothed hair which provides increased speed. Players want more speed on their serves in order to increase their chances of hitting an unreturned serve. After a few games are played, the balls tend to get fluffier and slower.

Why is Ash Barty not at US Open?

Barty has not played in a tournament since she was knocked of the US Open in the third round to American star Shelby Rogers.

How often are tennis balls changed at Wimbledon?

In all matches used balls will be replaced by new balls at the conclusion of the first seven games and thereafter at the conclusion of every ninth game.

What do they do with old tennis balls?

They are recyclable and can be ground up and used to make rubber flooring. US non-profit Green Ball is working on a range of durable uses for old tennis balls including, fittingly, making tennis courts.

Are tennis balls reused during a match?

During a match, balls are then switched every nine games to prevent players from having to use scuffed or damaged balls. With these strict requirements in place, the 54,250 balls required for last year's The Championships makes a lot more sense.

Do new tennis balls make a difference?

The difference between old and new ball is that the old ball is softer. This means that it will stay longer on the stringbed upon the contact. This results in more power, spin and control. New balls are harder and springier, therefore you will need to have better technique to control them, for ex.

Do they reuse tennis balls at Wimbledon?

During each tournament, 54,250 balls are used. They are replaced after every seven to nine games. The balls are stored at 68 degrees F and each one is tested for bounce and weight - a ball should bounce between 135 and 147cm after being dropped to a concrete floor from a height of 100 inches.

Why do tennis players pick up 3 balls?

Tennis players may check three balls or more before serving so that they can select one smooth ball and one fluffy ball. The smooth ball is used for the first serve. Because the hairs are flattened down, the ball travels faster than an older ball, which should make it harder to return.

Why do tennis players eat bananas?

The 4 reasons why tennis players eat bananas during matches are: 1) they are a good source of carbohydrates, giving the players the energy they need; 2) they are full of potassium, which helps to prevent cramps during long matches; 3) they are natural and filled with vitamins; and 4) they are a quick and easy snack, ...

What do tennis players look for when choosing balls?

Players generally look for the newest, least-fluffed balls — the ones whose fuzzy felt covering is the least disheveled — of the six in use during a match. The perception is that the felt starts to fluff after a few hard whacks, and a fluffed ball will be “heavier,” slowed by drag as it travels through the air.

What is the difference between regular-duty and extra duty tennis balls?

Regular-duty balls therefore have a thinner and less fuzzy felt covering so that the balls will pick up less clay when used on those courts. “Extra-duty” or “hard court” balls are for use on hard and grass courts.

How many times can you play with a set of tennis balls?

So how long do tennis balls really last? Tennis balls will go bad after about 2 weeks or 3-4 playing sessions. Unopened tennis balls are kept in a pressurized tube to help them retain bounciness and firmness, but even those will expire after two years (due to very tiny leaks).

Who supplies the tennis balls for the US Open?

For the past 40 years, every point at every US Open has been scored with a Wilson US Open Tennis Ball. Unparalleled consistency and performance make it the gold standard in tennis, trusted by the best in the game when it's all on the line.

How many tennis balls are thrown away each year?

In the US alone, 125 million tennis balls are thrown away every year and since tennis balls take 400 years to decompose that translates into 20,000 tonnes of non-compostable waste.

Why are tennis balls kept in the fridge?

As seen above, tennis balls got their bounce from the pressurized air inside the rubber core. It's a well-known fact that temperature has a huge impact on pressure and this, in turn, will affect the amount of bounce. Most times, the tennis balls are kept in the refrigerator to ensure consistency of bounce in the ball.

Can tennis balls be pressurized?

As a quick summary, pressurized tennis balls have: More bounce – Pressurized balls feel more “lively” when they first come out of the can. The can itself is pressurized to 14 psi to match the internal pressure inside the tennis balls.

How do I get rid of tennis balls?

There are several mail-in recycling programs, including reBounces, which has partnered with Ace Surfaces and Advanced Polymer Technology to grind up the balls and use them as a component in tennis court construction and resurfacing. For information, go to tennisballrecycling.com.