FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
8. SPECIAL REPORT
FirstNews
ISSUE 368
5 – 11 JULY 2013
The 50,570 mile journey
of Wimbledon’s
tennis balls
The tennis balls used at Wimbledon have travelled 50,570 miles around
the world before they land on Andy Murray’s racket on Centre Court.
SLAZENGER is a British sports equipment manufacturer and has been the official ball supplier for Wimbledon since
1902, with its headquarters based at Shirebrook in Derbyshire.
But their official Wimbledon ball flies between 11 countries
and across four continents before being manufactured in
Bataan in the Philippines and then travelling the final 6,660
miles to Wimbledon, London, SW19.
Dr Mark Johnson, Associate Professor of Operations
Management at Warwick Business School, has looked into the
supply chain of the Wimbledon tennis ball and unearthed the
surprisingly long and complex journey to one of the world’s
biggest sporting events.
Dr Johnson said: “It is one of the longest journeys I have seen
for a product. On the face of it, travelling more than 50,000
miles to make a tennis ball does seem fairly ludicrous, but it just
shows the global nature of production these days and, in the
end, this will be the most cost-effective way of making
tennis balls.
“Slazenger is locating production near the primary source of
their materials, which if you look at most current supply chains
today, is not the case.”
A complex supply chain sees clay shipped from South
Carolina in the USA, silica from Greece, magnesium carbonate
from Japan, zinc oxide from Thailand, sulphur from South Korea
and rubber from Malaysia to Bataan in the Philippines where
the rubber is vulcanized – a chemical process that makes the
rubber more durable.
Wool is then shipped from New Zealand to Stroud in
Gloucestershire, where it is weaved into felt and then flown
back to Bataan.
Meanwhile, petroleum naphthalene from Zibo in China and
glue from Basilan in the Philippines are brought to Bataan
where Slazenger, which was bought by Sports Direct in
2004, manufacture the balls. Finally, tins are shipped in from
Indonesia and, once the balls have been packaged, they are
sent to Wimbledon.
Dr Johnson said: “Slazenger shut down the factory in Barnsley
in the early 2000s and moved the equipment to Bataan in the
Philippines. They still get the felt from Stroud, as it requires a bit
more technical expertise. Shipping wool from New Zealand to
Stroud and then sending the felt back to the Philippines adds
a lot of miles, but they obviously want to use the best wool for
the Wimbledon balls.
“Apart from that part, they have managed to keep the supply
chain relatively short, and centred round the Philippines.”
Amazing to think how far that tennis ball has been before
Andy Murray hits it over the net for the first time!
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report. Can you: Find the facts? Interpret the information?
Work out why the journalist wrote and presented the stories in the way that they did?
Part A: Find the facts (AF2)
A1) What is Slazenger?
A2) The following materials/compounds are used in the production of the tennis balls. Complete the table
to show where each one comes from:
Material/compound
Place
clay
silica
magnesium carbonate
zinc oxide
sulphur
rubber
wool
petroleum naphthalene
glue
tins
felt
A3) Of the 50,570 miles, how far does the official Wimbledon ball have to travel from where it is
manufactured in Bataan to Wimbledon?
A4) It says in the report that “rubber is vulcanized.” What does that mean?
A5) Write what happened in: • the early 2000s • 2004
Part B: Interpret the information (AF3)
B1) In the report it says that the “official Wimbledon ball flies between 11 countries and across four
continents before being manufactured in Bataan.” Is this meant literally?
B2) Why is Dr Mark Johnson quoted throughout this article?
B3) What is significant about Slazenger’s supply chain?
B4) Explain why the use of felt from Stroud is notable.
B5) According to Dr Johnson “Slazenger shut down the factory in Barnsley [in the UK] in the early 2000s
and moved the equipment to Bataan in the Philippines.” Can you think of any reason(s) why that might have
been unpopular?
Part C: Analyse the writing and presentation (AF4-7)
C1) What techniques does the writer of this Special Report use in order to appeal to the First News target
audience?
C2) The article is about the tennis balls used at Wimbledon. Give reasons to explain why a picture of Andy
Murray is included with the report.
C3) How effective is the map of Wimbledon’s Tennis Ball Production Miles?
C4) In the report it says that Dr Johnson has looked into the supply chain of the Wimbledon tennis ball and
“unearthed the surprisingly long and complex journey to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.” He
also says the journey “does seem fairly ludicrous.” Comment on the use of language.
C5) This article is a Special Report. Could it have featured anywhere else in First News? Explain your answer.
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report. Can you:
Find the facts?
Interpret the information?
Work out why the journalist wrote and presented the stories in the way that they did?
Part A: Find the facts (AF2)
A1) What is Slazenger?
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A2) The following materials/compounds are used in the production of the tennis balls. Complete the table
to show where each one comes from:
Material/compound
clay
silica
magnesium carbonate
zinc oxide
sulphur
rubber
wool
petroleum naphthalene
glue
tins
felt
Place
A3) Of the 50,570 miles, how far does the official Wimbledon ball have to travel from where it is
manufactured in Bataan to Wimbledon?
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A4) It says in the report that “rubber is vulcanized.” What does that mean?
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
A5) Write what happened in:
• the early 2000s: ......................................................................................................................................................
• 2004: ..........................................................................................................................................................................
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report on Wimbledon’s tennis balls, then answer the following questions:
Part B: Interpret the information (AF3)
B1) In the report it says that the “official Wimbledon ball flies between 11 countries and across four
continents before being manufactured in Bataan.” Is this meant literally?
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B2) Why is Dr Mark Johnson quoted throughout this article?
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B3) What is significant about Slazenger’s supply chain?
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B4) Explain why the use of felt from Stroud is notable.
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Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report on Wimbledon’s tennis balls, then answer the following questions:
Part B: Interpret the information (AF3)
B5) According to Dr Johnson “Slazenger shut down the factory in Barnsley [in the UK] in the early 2000s
and moved the equipment to Bataan in the Phillipines.” Can you think of any reason(s) why that might have
been unpopular?
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Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report on Wimbledon’s tennis balls, then answer the following questions:
Part C: Analyse the writing & presentation (AF4-7)
C1) What techniques does the writer of this Special Report use in order to appeal to the First News target
audience?
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C2) The article is about the tennis balls used at Wimbledon. Give reasons to explain why a picture of Andy
Murray is included with the report.
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Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report on Wimbledon’s tennis balls, then answer the following questions:
Part C: Analyse the writing & presentation (AF4-7)
C3) How effective is the map of Wimbledon’s Tennis Ball Production Miles?
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Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Carefully read this week’s Special Report on Wimbledon’s tennis balls, then answer the following questions:
Part C: Analyse the writing & presentation (AF4-7)
C4) In the report it says that Dr Johnson has looked into the supply chain of the Wimbledon tennis ball and
“unearthed the surprisingly long and complex journey to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.” He
also says the journey “does seem fairly ludicrous.” Comment on the use of language.
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C5) This article is a Special Report. Could it have featured anywhere else in First News? Explain your answer.
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Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Teacher answers and assessment level guidelines
The teacher answers are intended to provide a guide as to the AF strand of the question and possible responses from pupils working at
different levels. In the level 5/6 answers we try to provide the most complete answer possible in order to provide teaching points when
discussing the answers with pupils.
Part A: Find the facts (AF2)
A1. What is Slazenger?
AF2 - understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answers:
L4-relevant points identified
• Slazenger is a British sports equipment manufacturer.
L5-relevant points clearly identified
• It has been the official ball supplier for Wimbledon since 1902, with its headquarters based at Shirebrook in Derbyshire.
A2. The following materials/compounds are used in the production of the tennis balls. Complete the table to show where each
one comes from:
L4-some correct answers
L5/6-correct answers with all information
Material/compound
clay
silica
magnesium carbonate
zinc oxide
sulphur
rubber
wool
petroleum naphthalene
glue
tins
felt
Place
South Carolina in the USA
Greece
Japan
Thailand
South Korea
Malaysia
New Zealand
Zibo in China
Basilan in the Philippines
Indonesia
Stroud in Gloucestershire in the UK
A3. Of the 50,570 miles, how far does the official Wimbledon ball have to travel from where it is manufactured in Bataan to
Wimbledon?
AF2 - understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant point identified
• From Bataan the ball has to travel 6,660 miles to Wimbledon.
A4. It says in the report that “rubber is vulcanized.” What does that mean?
AF2 - understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant point identified
• It means that the rubber goes through a chemical process that makes it more durable.
A5. Write what happened in:
• the early 2000s • 2004
AF2 - understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answers:
L4- relevant points identified
• In the early 2000s Slazenger shut down the factory in Barnsley and moved the equipment to Bataan in the Philippines.
• In 2004 Slazenger was bought by Sports Direct.
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
B1. In the report it says that the “official Wimbledon ball flies between 11 countries and across four continents before being
manufactured in Bataan.” Is this meant literally?
AF3 - deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answers:
L4- appropriate inference
• No, the official Wimbledon balls only actually travel from Butaan to Wimbledon.
L5-further explanation
• However, the materials used to make the Wimbledon balls come from different countries across four continents. Also, the wool
moves between countries before being flown to Butaan because it comes from New Zealand but is made into felt in Gloucestershire in
the United Kingdom. Not all of the materials are literally flown though, some are shipped.
B2. Why is Dr Mark Johnson quoted throughout this article?
AF3 - deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4/5-inference with some explanation
• Quotations are used to hold the interest of the reader and sometimes they can reassure the reader that they are being given credible
information from a reliable source. Dr Mark Johnson is the Associate Professor of Operations Management at Warwick Business School.
Therefore he has studied the production of goods and is qualified to comment on the production of Wimbledon’s tennis balls.
B3. What is significant about Slazenger’s supply chain?
AF3 - deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
• The supply chain is significant because it is unlike most current supply chains today. This is because Slazenger’s production is located
near the primary source of their materials.
B4. Explain why the use of felt from Stroud is notable.
AF3 - deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answers:
L4- appropriate inference
• Using felt from Stroud is notable because getting the felt from Stroud adds a lot of miles to the production of the tennis balls.
L5- comments develop explanation of inferred meanings
• This is because the wool is shipped from New Zealand to Stroud. Then the wool is made into felt in Stroud and shipped back to
Bataan where the other materials are. The felt making is still done in Stroud even though the other equipment has been moved
to Bataan because it requires more technical expertise. The fact that the people at Slazenger are prepared to continue to have the
felt made in Stroud is notable because it suggests that they are willing to put additional measures into place to ensure that the
Wimbledon balls are of the best possible quality.
B5. According to Dr Johnson “Slazenger shut down the factory in Barnsley [in the UK] in the early 2000s and moved the
equipment to Bataan in the Phillipines.” Can you think of any reason(s) why that might have been unpopular?
AF3 - deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answers:
L4- appropriate inference
• It might have been unpopular with the people living in Barnsley and the surrounding areas because of the impact of the loss of jobs.
L5- comments develop explanation of inferred meanings
• Wimbledon is an important UK tournament and people might feel that it is “ludicrous” that the balls for the tournament can’t be
produced in this country because of the factory closure. Slazenger is a British sports equipment brand. Moving equipment from
Barnsley to the Philippines in order to manufacture the balls there suggests a lack of support for British manufacturing.
Learning through news
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FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
Part C: Analyse the writing & presentation (AF4-7)
C1. What techniques does the writer of this Special Report use in order to appeal to the First News target audience?
AF6 - identify and comment on writers’ purposes and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text on the reader
Possible answers:
L4-simple comment on overall effect on reader
L5-general awareness of effect on the reader
L6-effect on the reader clearly identified, with explanation
• First News readers tend to be aged 7-14. The main body text is broken up with pictures and a map to make the information look
more appealing and seem easier to access.
• Andy Murray is considered to be a sporting hero by many people. First News readers are likely to be interested in an article which
features his image and in which he is mentioned (albeit briefly!)
• The use of frequent quotations are from an expert which makes the information seem reliable and thus worth reading about.
• The use of facts such as the 50,570 mile journey might intrigue the reader to read on to find out how this can be the case. Especially
since that particular fact features in the headline.
C2. The article is about the tennis balls used at Wimbledon. Give reasons to explain why a picture of Andy Murray is included
with the report.
AF4 - identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at text
level.
Possible answers:
L4-simple comment on the presentational feature
• A picture of Andy Murray is included with the report because Wimbledon is a very prestigious tennis tournament and he is ranked as
the British No.1 tennis player and the World No.2.
L5/6-clear explanation of the effect of the presentational feature
• Wimbledon is considered to be one of the biggest sporting events in the world. However despite the fact that it takes place in
London, a British player has not won the tournament since 1936. Andy Murray is pictured with the article about Wimbledon tennis
balls because the British people hope that he will be the next British player to win the tournament. As the picture is an action shot it
gives the impression that he is focused and ready to compete.
• Therefore, the use of his picture creates interest, particularly at the moment as Wimbledon is in progress. It is likely to hook the reader
even though in actual fact the report isn’t directly about him.
C3. How effective is the map of Wimbledon’s Tennis Ball Production Miles?
AF4 - identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at text
level.
Possible answers:
L4-simple comment on the presentational feature
• The map of Wimbledon’s Tennis Ball Production Miles is effective because the supply chain is so complicated that the text explaining
it can seem confusing and hard to imagine. Having the places that supply parts of the ball marked on a map enables the reader to take
in the spread of countries and continents involved at a glance.
L5-further explanation
• There is also a key identifying each place marked and listing the material derived from there. This is effective because it is numbered
and colour-coded so it is easy to link the information to the map. It also looks more attractive and easier to digest for the reader than
when it is just within the main body text.
• Wimbledon is marked on the map with a large purple and green circle and a number 14 but there is also an arrow to a black and
white representation of Andy Murray about to hit a tennis ball with his racket. He is also framed in a purple and green circle. The
framing is effective because the shape is reminiscent of the tennis ball theme and the colours are associated with Wimbledon.
Although it is a representation of Murray and not a photograph, it is recognisable as Murray. The lead sentence also eliminates any
possible remaining doubt as it details the number of miles the balls travel “before they land on Andy Murray’s racket on Centre Court.”
L6-some detailed exploration of effectiveness of presentational feature
• There is a slight possibility that the arrow to the picture of Murray could be confusing because it could be interpreted as representing
more production miles when really it is just needed because there is not enough space for the picture to be positioned on the UK
on the map. However, the same colour scheme is used for the circle showing Wimbledon on the map and the circle framing Murray.
The arrow itself is also purple. Therefore the purpose of this part of the map is clear enough and it makes the map more visually
interesting. Therefore, overall, the map is effective.
Learning through news
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FirstNews Lead Story: Article Analysis
Special Report: The 50,750 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls
(Issue 368: 5 - 11 July 2013)
C4. In the report it says that Dr Johnson has looked into the supply chain of the Wimbledon tennis ball and “unearthed the
surprisingly long and complex journey to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.” He also says the journey “does seem
fairly ludicrous.” Comment on the use of language.
AF5 - explain and comment on writers’ use of language, including grammatical and literacy features at word and sentence level
Possible answers:
L4-simple comments on writer’s choices
L5-comments show some awareness of the effect of writer’s language choices
L6-some detailed explanation, with appropriate terminology, of how language is used
• The use of “unearthed” makes it seem as if Dr Johnson made a great discovery when he looked into the supply chain of the
Wimbledon ball. This gives the impression of new and interesting research and findings.
• The detail about the journey of the tennis balls being “surprisingly long” and “complex” is intriguing because further explanation is
needed and so the reader is drawn in to find out what is surprising and complicated about it.
• The reference to Wimbledon being “one of the world’s biggest sporting events” makes the tournament and everything associated
with it (including the production of the tennis balls) seem important.
• Dr Johnson’s admission that the journey of the tennis balls “does seem fairly ludicrous” makes him seem honest and echoes what the
reader might have been thinking. Consequently the reader might be more open to what else he has to say. The use of “seem” implies
that in reality the journey is not ludicrous. This is likely to intrigue the reader and make them want to find out what the explanation is.
C5. This article is a Special Report. Could it have featured anywhere else in First News? Explain your answer.
AF7 - relate texts to their social, cultural and historical tradition
Possible answers:
L4/5-comment on features of different sections of the newspaper
• In terms of subject matter the report could have featured in the Crazy but True section of the newspaper because the stories in there
tend to focus on something surprising. Even Dr Johnson admits that “on the face of it, travelling more than 50,000 miles to make a
tennis ball does seem fairly ludicrous.”
• However, the stories in Crazy but True don’t tend to go into too much detail as several are expected to fit on one page. They would
usually only be accompanied by one or two small pictures. Therefore this report would not fit there in its current format and so it is
better suited to being a Special Report in which more detail is expected.
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