Boris Becker - Last in White. First in Yellow

From White to Yellow Tennis Balls.

London, 07 July 1985. The conditions surrounding Boris Becker's Wimbledon victory in 1985 have since become a significant part of tennis history. Boris Becker's final match against Kevin Curren marked the last Wimbledon final played with white tennis balls. For decades, white balls had shaped the visual identity of the Championships and were closely associated with traditional grass-court tennis.

At the time, white balls were still standard at Wimbledon, even though visibility on grass had become an increasingly serious issue. Players such as John McEnroe, who won his Wimbledon titles earlier in the 1980s, and Ivan Lendl, who reached several finals in London, competed entirely with white balls. Growing television coverage and the sport's global expansion, however, brought these conditions under scrutiny.

In 1986, Wimbledon officially introduced yellow tennis balls. Becker won the final once again and thus became the only player to win the Championships with both white and yellow balls. The need for better visibility for spectators and television audiences primarily drove the color change, which quickly became the worldwide standard.

Boris Becker with his Puma G. Vilas racquet

For players like Lendl, who reached multiple finals without winning the title, the change came during a period in which speed and physical intensity in men’s tennis continued to increase. McEnroe, by contrast, remained closely identified with the era of white balls and the classical image of Wimbledon tennis.

The years 1985 and 1986, therefore, mark a clear transition. Becker’s victory over Curren closed the era of the white ball. His successful title defense one year later opened a new phase in which yellow balls became an integral part of modern tennis.

Further insights:

Evolution of the tennis ball

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Author:

Tennishistory.com - Editorial Board