Thiem not a fan of the French Open balls: "they will change the result"

BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
“Will Certainly Change the Result”: Dominic Thiem Analyses New Balls at French Open 2020

During a recent interview, Thiem talked about the major difference in the new balls used at Roland Garros. Wilson has produced the balls this year, which were formerly manufactured by Babolat. Thiem believes that new balls are comparatively slower and might change the results.

“That will be the bigger difference. The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit,” predicted Thiem, after testing the balls during his preparation in Vienna.

The new Wilson balls are expected to gather less dirt and moisture to maintain consistency. They are designed to endure longer rallies and are lighter than the old Babolat balls.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/w...nch-open-2020-wilson-babolat-atp-tennis-news/
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
He has his slam now so no need to worry. Rest up Thiem and enjoy life.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Wilander on Eurosports right now: "I'm picking Djokovic for the title. The court conditions and the new balls don't favor Nadal, he has a lot of adjustments to make and the balls won't take his spin nearly as well."
 
T

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
If it’s true that they gather less dirt and moisture, then it’s true that they will play less spinny, which will indeed hurt explosive spin-reliant players like Nadal and Thiem.

The extra surface dirt and moisture is what adds mass to the babolat balls and makes them heavier. Since added mass is at the surface, the rotational moment of inertia is also higher, so that air drag does not slow down the spin rate during flight. The net result is much faster rpm by the time the Babolat ball reaches the court for the bounce, compared to the newer Wilson ball.

This difference in rotational MOI is also what makes pressureless balls seem to play with less rpm, as they must be made with thicker walls and hence lower MOI than thinner-wall pressurized balls where all the mass is closer to the surface.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Third Serve said:
I mean, it is Wilander...
Click to expand...
22wilander.jpg
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
BeatlesFan said:
“Will Certainly Change the Result”: Dominic Thiem Analyses New Balls at French Open 2020

During a recent interview, Thiem talked about the major difference in the new balls used at Roland Garros. Wilson has produced the balls this year, which were formerly manufactured by Babolat. Thiem believes that new balls are comparatively slower and might change the results.

“That will be the bigger difference. The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit,” predicted Thiem, after testing the balls during his preparation in Vienna.

The new Wilson balls are expected to gather less dirt and moisture to maintain consistency. They are designed to endure longer rallies and are lighter than the old Babolat balls.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/w...nch-open-2020-wilson-babolat-atp-tennis-news/
Click to expand...
Thiemdal final confirmed??? :oops: :oops:
 
B

blablavla

G.O.A.T.
GabeT said:
Is there any other major sport where the playing conditions vary so much and can have such an impact on who wins or loses?
Click to expand...

Football?
The one that is known as soccer in some parts of the world.
The size of the pitch is not standard, so you have a huge pitch on Camp Nou, that favors Barca style, and you have smaller pitches, that favor defense style.

You have brilliant pitches with top clubs, and literally agricultural fields in some cases in smaller clubs outside the top 5 leagues.

Then you have pitches with heating, that allow grass to grow as well during the colder times, and of course pitches without, so when it snows the whole thing transforms into a different sport, and UCL is quite stubborn to still schedule some late autumn matches in places where it can snow and there is no heating
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Bionic Poster
BeatlesFan said:
“Will Certainly Change the Result”: Dominic Thiem Analyses New Balls at French Open 2020

During a recent interview, Thiem talked about the major difference in the new balls used at Roland Garros. Wilson has produced the balls this year, which were formerly manufactured by Babolat. Thiem believes that new balls are comparatively slower and might change the results.

“That will be the bigger difference. The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit,” predicted Thiem, after testing the balls during his preparation in Vienna.

The new Wilson balls are expected to gather less dirt and moisture to maintain consistency. They are designed to endure longer rallies and are lighter than the old Babolat balls.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/w...nch-open-2020-wilson-babolat-atp-tennis-news/
Click to expand...

It’s not called the Djokovic open for no reason, no? :p
 
irishnadalfan1983

irishnadalfan1983

Hall of Fame
Hitman said:
It's going to be a good two weeks of tennis for us. Looking forward to the action.
Click to expand...

Well of course you are particularly looking forward to the 2 weeks after the draw :)

I am also to be fair - it feels a bit unsettling/never wracking....The again maybe this is all nonsense talk about the weather, the new tennis balls, etc and will be Nole V Rafa in final....Something tells me that won’t happen...
 
StringGuruMRT

StringGuruMRT

Semi-Pro
BeatlesFan said:
“Will Certainly Change the Result”: Dominic Thiem Analyses New Balls at French Open 2020

During a recent interview, Thiem talked about the major difference in the new balls used at Roland Garros. Wilson has produced the balls this year, which were formerly manufactured by Babolat. Thiem believes that new balls are comparatively slower and might change the results.

“That will be the bigger difference. The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit,” predicted Thiem, after testing the balls during his preparation in Vienna.

The new Wilson balls are expected to gather less dirt and moisture to maintain consistency. They are designed to endure longer rallies and are lighter than the old Babolat balls.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/w...nch-open-2020-wilson-babolat-atp-tennis-news/
Click to expand...
Big surprise that he feels like the BABOLAT balls are the better option for himself, a BABOLAT player and Rafa, another BABOLAT player... Who would have ever predicted that??? Always remember to dance with the lady that brought ya!
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Honestly, if Novak doesn't win this tournament with the way EVERYTHING is lined up for him it'll be pretty crazy. Unless we get some real Wizard of Oz type wind, or the sun comes out with a vengeance on Sunday October 11, this guy has numerous factors lined up for him that he doesn't even need half of them to come into the equation to have this bad boy in the bag.
 
S

Start da Game

Hall of Fame
ibbi said:
Honestly, if Novak doesn't win this tournament with the way EVERYTHING is lined up for him it'll be pretty crazy. Unless we get some real Wizard of Oz type wind, or the sun comes out with a vengeance on Sunday October 11, this guy has numerous factors lined up for him that he doesn't even need half of them to come into the equation to have this bad boy in the bag.
Click to expand...

i am not buying thiem's explanation, it is probably mind games and easing pressure off himself........the slower the conditions, the more advantage to thiem........he can stand tall and thump the ball for 4 hours non-stop in heavy conditions.........aging rafa-tron are toast if the conditions are not sunny.........
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Start da Game said:
i am not buying thiem's explanation, it is probably mind games and easing pressure off himself........the slower the conditions, the more advantage to thiem........he can stand tall and thump the ball for 4 hours non-stop in heavy conditions.........aging rafa-tron are toast if the conditions are not sunny.........
Click to expand...
No way. He does like to hit through the court, the heavy conditions don't suit him at all. When he and Novak played here in 2016 it was the same thing, he was totally toothless. Ditto when they played their night match at Rome in 2017, and that was against Suckavic.
 
S

Start da Game

Hall of Fame
age will be a factor in these conditions........thiem has come a long way physically since 2016 and now they will struggle to hit through him, things have changed over the years........in relative terms he should be having it easier to outhit rafa-tron who could struggle to catch breath........
 
Born_to_slice

Born_to_slice

Legend
Beckerserve said:
Might be a disaster for Djokovic. A guy who has had elbow issues might find the heavy balls very hard to hit through. He is not a huge ball striker. They should help guys who hit flat and big or someone like berretini who will have more time to wind up. Medvedev will love them!
Click to expand...
It says in the OP that this ball is lighter than babolat ball.
 
H

helterskelter

G.O.A.T.
NatF said:
Need to put Thiem in Djokovic's half to avoid another moral slam for Nadal.
Click to expand...

What nonsense! You imply that there are circumstances in which Nadal would not be the moral winner of the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. Surely you know that this is an absolutely absurd thing to say! Nadal's moral slam was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt long, long ago.
 
M

mental midget

Hall of Fame
favors RBA and PCB as well, both hit through the ball nicely and can hang around all day in long rallies. Also imo good for zverev and tpas...big guys who can hit through the ball and will have time to set up.
 
Beckerserve

Beckerserve

Legend
These balls will hurt Nadal and Thiem and Djokovic. No doubt. Nadal and thiem wont get the spin they rely on and Djokovic will struggle to hit through the ball with a sligjtly weakened elbow.
That said Nadal v Djokovic final all but certain
 
GabeT

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
blablavla said:
Football?
The one that is known as soccer in some parts of the world.
The size of the pitch is not standard, so you have a huge pitch on Camp Nou, that favors Barca style, and you have smaller pitches, that favor defense style.

You have brilliant pitches with top clubs, and literally agricultural fields in some cases in smaller clubs outside the top 5 leagues.

Then you have pitches with heating, that allow grass to grow as well during the colder times, and of course pitches without, so when it snows the whole thing transforms into a different sport, and UCL is quite stubborn to still schedule some late autumn matches in places where it can snow and there is no heating
Click to expand...
daggerman said:
Golf. Each course differs from every other course in significant ways: green speed, grass type, course length, course topography (undulations, etc.), fairway width, rough thickness, hazard placement, bunker depth, climate, elevation
Click to expand...
but would either of you say that there is a soccer team or a golf player that benefits from certain type of conditions to the point that under those conditions they are clear favorites but if those conditions change a bit they become beatable? Can’t think of any such examples.
 
Mike Sams

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
ibbi said:
Honestly, if Novak doesn't win this tournament with the way EVERYTHING is lined up for him it'll be pretty crazy. Unless we get some real Wizard of Oz type wind, or the sun comes out with a vengeance on Sunday October 11, this guy has numerous factors lined up for him that he doesn't even need half of them to come into the equation to have this bad boy in the bag.
Click to expand...
At 33 and having lulls in his focus, he is not a lock for the final. There are some dangerous players on his side of the draw.
 
C

Cloister

Rookie
GabeT said:
Is there any other major sport where the playing conditions vary so much and can have such an impact on who wins or loses?
Click to expand...

Football (American)

Weather conditions can radically affect the game. A high powered passing offense can be completely neutralized by wind, rain, snow, etc.
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
“Will Certainly Change the Result”: Dominic Thiem Analyses New Balls at French Open 2020

During a recent interview, Thiem talked about the major difference in the new balls used at Roland Garros. Wilson has produced the balls this year, which were formerly manufactured by Babolat. Thiem believes that new balls are comparatively slower and might change the results.

“That will be the bigger difference. The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit,” predicted Thiem, after testing the balls during his preparation in Vienna.

The new Wilson balls are expected to gather less dirt and moisture to maintain consistency. They are designed to endure longer rallies and are lighter than the old Babolat balls.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/w...nch-open-2020-wilson-babolat-atp-tennis-news/
Click to expand...
This is what happens when you become a slam champion; everything, no matter how small, can affect the ending. Somebody breathes: “excuse me? Can you tell the crowd to be quiet?”
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Bionic Poster
ibbi said:
Honestly, if Novak doesn't win this tournament with the way EVERYTHING is lined up for him it'll be pretty crazy. Unless we get some real Wizard of Oz type wind, or the sun comes out with a vengeance on Sunday October 11, this guy has numerous factors lined up for him that he doesn't even need half of them to come into the equation to have this bad boy in the bag.
Click to expand...
He just needs to avoid a DQ
 
USO

USO

Banned
Does anyone know if Djokovic strikes the new tennis balls in anger and they hit again someone like at the USO, will the victim feel more pain or less pain? How do they compare with the ones used at the USO in this scenario? :unsure:
 
vex

vex

Legend
USO said:
Does anyone know if Djokovic strikes the new tennis balls in anger and they hit again someone like at the USO, will the victim feel more pain or less pain? How do they compare with the ones used at the USO in this scenario? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Bro you are O B S E S S E D.

trying way too hard. Super cringe
 
Z

ZYW

Rookie
USO said:
Does anyone know if Djokovic strikes the new tennis balls in anger and they hit again someone like at the USO, will the victim feel more pain or less pain? How do they compare with the ones used at the USO in this scenario? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Why don't you offer yourself to a ball striking test and let us know.
 
ccmtennis

ccmtennis

Semi-Pro
Now ... I am sure none of us have played on the clay courts of RG but having used them on green US clay and regular har tru courts here in the US ... Babolat and Wilson balls are vastly different. Babolat plays closer to Penn balls IMHO and Wilson play slower with a higher bounce. Hard to believe this will not help Nadal more although given how superstitious he can be who knows if it will mess with his head
 
USO

USO

Banned
ccmtennis said:
Now ... I am sure none of us have played on the clay courts of RG but having used them on green US clay and regular har tru courts here in the US ... Babolat and Wilson balls are vastly different. Babolat plays closer to Penn balls IMHO and Wilson play slower with a higher bounce. Hard to believe this will not help Nadal more although given how superstitious he can be who knows if it will mess with his head
Click to expand...

Have Wilson balls been used for other clay tournaments in the past, and how did Nadal perform?
 
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