New French Open Balls by Babolat Bring Complaints From Djokovic
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New tennis balls being used at the French Open this year are drawing complaints from Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray, who say the Babolat balls are difficult to play.
Djokovic said the balls supplied by the French company are harder to handle because they bounce higher on the clay courts in Paris and move faster through the air than last year’s Dunlop balls, which were also used in warm-ups this year. Murray says the changes make it hard on players’ wrists and other joints. Babolat says its balls meet standards set by the French tennis federation.