Back in 2011, Roger Federer arrived in Paris hoping to win his second French Open title.
The Swiss legend, who went on to win 20 Grand Slam titles before his retirement in 2022, completed the career Grand Slam at the event in 2009 after defeating Robin Soderling in the final.
In the first round, Federer faced a tough opponent in the form of Feliciano Lopez. However, Federer took no chances against the Spaniard, winning 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
After the match, Federer expressed his displeasure regarding the tennis balls being used on the Tour.
Roger Federer was ‘frustrated’ by the change of balls at the 2011 French Open
After defeating Lopez, the Swiss maestro – one of the greatest players in tennis history – voiced his concerns regarding a change in ball at the French Open.
The type of ball being used at the French Open that year differed to the one being used at warm-up events in Rome, Madrid and Barcelona. The events used the Dunlop Fort All Court.
The French Open, which had used the Dunlop Fort All Court in 2010, switched to Babolat balls from 2011.
Federer told reporters in Paris: “I guess the disappointing part here in this whole story, because I’m hearing a lot of conversations about the balls, it’s just that they’re not the same from what we’ve just played for the last month.
“And that for us is the most frustrating part, is that the tournaments all changed to the Roland Garros ball after last year; Roland Garros has changed their balls again.
“Now we’re stuck with a different deal for all the different ATP Tour events. That is the frustrating part that we need to adjust before the French, different balls.”
Rafael Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, also complained about the balls after winning his first round match against John Isner.
As per Bloomberg, he said: “I only practiced four or five days, six days with this ball after one month and a half or one month playing with another ball
“The feeling is something very important in tennis. From the outside, it is sometimes difficult to see. But from inside for the players, it is something dangerous for the shoulders, for everything.”
The French Open tournament director refuted the claims
Speaking to reporters at the tournament, then-tournament director Gilbert Ysern responded to the claims being made by the likes of Nadal and Federer.
“We are convinced that we have the exact same ball as last year,” he said.
“We clearly asked Babolat to produce the exact same ball as the one we had last year.”
In a press release, Dunlop said it was “impossible for another manufacturer to replicate the finished product.”
