How well do you know about the French Open, the Grand Slam tennis tournament that takes place in Roland Garros in Paris?

"A game of agility."
"A different level of endurance."
"Unique in the world of sports."

Popular commentators have been charmed and awed by tennis for its high tenacity, athleticism, and competitiveness.

However, The French Open demands much more.

The French Open is a unique tennis tournament, the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay courts. Clay courts present different challenges than other surfaces, such as grass or hard courts. The slower nature of clay courts requires players to adapt their playing style and employ specific strategies to be successful.
The tennis ball used in the French Open and other tournaments is an essential component that contributes to the spectacle of the game. Tennis balls used on clay courts have a fibrous felt covering, which interacts with the clay surface in a particular way. The clay can stick to the felt, altering the ball's trajectory and spin. This interaction affects the game and requires players to adapt their shots accordingly. In summary, the clay court surface at the French Open poses unique challenges to players, requiring specific skills, adaptability, and endurance. The tennis ball, with its fibrous felt covering and aerodynamic properties, is an integral part of the game, contributing to the spectacle and strategy of tennis on clay courts.

Thrilling sports do have an ‘air’ about them

The French Open tennis tournament is one of the biggest out there, and there's a small army responsible for ensuring everything goes off without a hitch – one of which is compressed air.

Compressed air plays a great part in this unique tennis tournament. Compressed air is critical in manufacturing tennis balls, including moulding and shaping the rubber shell and inserting pressurised gas inside the ball. The precise control of compressed air ensures consistency in the manufacturing process, resulting in a uniform and reliable tennis ball.

Compressed air in sports equipment

Compressed-air inflation method is a widely used method in the sports equipment sector. One of the essential processes for tennis ball manufacturing is the inflation and pressurisation of the core. In a pressurised air chamber for eight to ten minutes, two halves of the ball are combined to form the core. After that, the core is cooled, causing the internal pressure to fall below the atmospheric pressure. When the pieces are put together, the felt is cut to fit around the ball, then the cloth is prepared to cover it, and finally, the ball is imprinted with the logo.

Enjoy your tournament experience with these interesting facts and applications around compressed air. To learn more about compressed air applications and to find compressed air equipment for your requirements, reach out to our experts: https://www.elgi.com/eu/contact-us/