Photo - Jules Marie shows the training balls donated to Future

Jules Marie is at the Vila Real de Santo Antonio Future tournament in Portugal. These tournaments are notorious for offering far less comfortable conditions than Challenger and ATP Tour events.

Jules Marie's practice balls are a case in point. Balls in a sorry state of repair and not suitable for professional players.

Tennis balls are already at the heart of controversy for their very premature wear and tear and the way it affects the game.

Richard Gasquet said in Marseille: "Since COVID, it's been catastrophic.

They're so heavy that you can hit them and they won't leave the confines of the court. It really changes tennis, there's less creativity."