New Zealand Wool Bounces onto Centre Court at the US Open

The world’s tennis elite has stepped onto the courts at Flushing Meadows for the 2025 US Open, relying on a little-known Kiwi export: wool from New Zealand farms.

Every official Wilson match ball used at the tournament contains wool scoured in New Zealand before being sent to Thailand, where textile specialist TTI Sports produces the fluorescent yellow felt. From there, the material makes its way into balls supplied to the biggest names in tennis.

WoolWorks, New Zealand’s largest wool scouring company, is a crucial link in this global supply chain. Chief executive Rosstan Mazey says New Zealand’s crossbred wool is especially prized for its whiteness and cleanliness, making it ideal for dyeing the bright, television-friendly yellow that has become synonymous with the sport. “When it comes to producing felt, our fibre has the consistency and colour purity that manufacturers want,” he explained.

Around 3,000 tonnes of New Zealand wool were exported last year for use in tennis ball felt. The fibres, typically from Romney sheep in the 32–36 micron range, are blended with synthetic threads before being bonded to the rubber cores that form the foundation of each ball. TTI Sports, the world’s largest maker of tennis ball felt, supplies about 80% of the market, including brands such as Wilson, Penn, Slazenger and Head.

Over the course of the US Open, more than 100,000 balls will be put through their paces by players chasing one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes. This year’s winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles will each collect US$5 million (NZ$8.4m), a record payout and a 39% increase on last year.

For Mazey, who is also a keen club player in Wellington, seeing New Zealand wool play a hidden role at the pinnacle of the sport is a point of pride. “It’s one of the more unusual but exciting uses of our fibre,” he said. “You won’t see a Kiwi logo on the ball, but every rally has a bit of New Zealand in it.”

Source: TNZH