Most American singles hopes have dissipated in Roland Garros, but an American brand is trying to gain traction in the crowded racquet landscape by issuing a guarantee for the duration of the tournament.
Donnay is taking an unprecedented step of offering a 30-day, money-back guarantee on its new Dual Core racquets—the X-P Dual and X-Dual Lines—during the French Open. Racquets covered by the guarantee include the X-Dual Silver 99, X-Dual Silver 99 Lite, X-Dual Gold (in 94 and 99 square inch head sizes), X-Dual Platinum (in 94 and 99 square inch head sizes), X-P Dual and X-P Lite (which comes in two colors—black with white trim and white with pink trim). Each racquet retails for $198.
Donnay says selling its racquetsonline through its web site, Donnayusa.com, gives the brand the ability to offer the limited-time, money-back guarantee.
"We're the only racquet company selling directly to the consumer, so we have the ability to do things other racquet companies can't do and this is one of them," says Donnay CEO Bobby Choe, whose brother Jerry Choe heads design and manufacturing of the brand's racquets. "We strongly believe in our racquets and this is a way to put our money where our mouth is and show consumers we stand behind the quality of our racquets."
The guarantee, which is in effect from now until the French Open ends on June 5, applies only to racquets purchased on Donnayusa.com and not to phone orders or racquets purchased in retail shops. Returned racquets must not be "abused or destroyed" and must include all original parts in order to qualify for the refund. The consumer is responsible for shipping the racquet back to Donnay's New York City headquarters as well as paying all shipping costs. Any returned racquet must be postmarked or shipped within 30 days from the day the racquet was received by the customer in order to qualify for the refund. Donnay will issue a refund of the full purchase price (it will not refund shipping, handling or stringing costs) within 14 days of receiving the returned racquet.
It is believed to be the first time an American-based brand is offering a money-backracquet guarantee.
"I'm not aware of any other racquet company offering that kind of guarantee," says Woody Schneider, who owns Grand Central Racquet and New York City Racquet Sports in Manhattan. "It is unique, though I think it opens up a can of worms if brands start selling directly online; obviously it impacts racquet sales for retail stores already competing with the big online warehouses."
Emile Donnay founded the brand in 1910 in Belgium. The company made wood tool handles before beginning to manufacture wood racquets in 1934. Rod Laver briefly played with Donnay. The brand enjoyed its halcyon days when Bjorn Borg won Wimbledon playing with Donnay (Borg played with Donnay in European tournaments). Andre Agassi wielded a Donnay when he defeated Goran Ivanisevic in a five-set thriller to capture his first career Grand Slam championship at the 1992 Wimbledon. In 1996, Sports Direct International acquired global rights to Donnaybut devalued the brand's reputation by producing a $99 entry-level frame that distanced Donnay from its loyal following. The Choe brothers bought the U.S. licensing rights and relaunched Donnay USA last summer, debuting its ultra-thin beam player frames.
Will the reward of potential sales justify the risk of the guarantee—which could cost the company if consumers take advantage of the return policy? Choe says five months of play-testing with a wide range of consumers gives Donnay confidence their sticks will have staying power.
"That's obviously the biggest risk: that we could have a lot of returns," Choe says. "But from what we've seen across the board from different segments of the market, play-testing with hundreds of different players of different genders, different ages and different skill levels we've received a very uniform, positive response to our new racquets. We started play-testing Dual Core in December so we've done a lot of research and the response has been so favorable we decided to take this step."
Maria Sharapova's bruising baseline power is amplified by a new black-and-blue accomplice on Roland Garros' red clay: the Head YouTek IG Instinct MP.
The 100 square-inch head racquet is 27 inches long, weighs 10.6 oz. (unstrung) and has a 16 x 19 string pattern, with a beam width of 23/25/21 mm. The balance is 1 inch headlight. The suggested retail price for the YouTek IG Instinct is $190.
Some retailers and tennis shops currently have demos of the racquet, but it won’t be available for purchase until August, giving Sharapova the opportunity to go deep in draws at Roland Garros and Wimbledon to showcase the new stick.
The eighth-ranked Russian wielded the Instinct in sweeping world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and 2010 French Open finalist Samantha Stosur in straight-sets succession to collect her 23rd career title in Rome earlier this month. Sharapova said she play-tested a few Head frames and worked with the brand on revising the right racquet weight for her flat-hitting style.
"I actually tried the Head frames end of October, November, and had a few different brands, few different frames," Sharapova said. "I picked that one out, and it was actually one of the new racquets and new technology that Head was working on. It wasn't a racquet on the market. I hit a couple of balls with it, and I think some players have a feeling when they've played a really long time that they know something works for them. I loved the feel of it. I loved how it helped me when I was on the run. There are so many things I really liked about it. Then we worked a little bit with the weight."
Head is also introducing a lighter, 9.5 ounce version of the frame, the YouTek IG Instinct S. It comes in a 102-square-inch head and also has a 16 x 19 string pattern. This version retails for $180.
Innegra, which Head touts as "the world’s lightest high-performance fiber in the industry today," is integrated into the frame for shock absorption and improved stability. It also includes the brand’s d3o technology, offering stiffness or softer touch depending on the impact of the ball off the string bed. Additionally, Head says the racquet features "larger grommets in key areas" to enhance comfort. Selecting an arm-friendly frame may well have been a key consideration for Sharapova, who has battled shoulder and elbow injuries in recent years.
The three-time Grand Slam champion opened the 2010 season playing with a Prince EXO3 Black frame and appeared to be using that racquet when she won her 21st career title in Memphis (in February 2010). At Indian Wells, she suffered a right elbow injury that sidelined her for nearly two months. When she returned to the tour in Madrid in May, she was playing with an all-black frame devoid of the Prince stencil and lacking the patented EXO3 holes.
It is believed Sharapova made the switch to a blacked-out Head frame then, though she's said she didn't finalize her selection of the Instinct until last fall.
Last summer, Novak Djokovic wore a distinctive dragon design on the back of his white-and-black Sergio Tacchini polo shirt, and brought bite to his game in saving match points against Roger Federer en route to the U.S. Open final.
Djokovic opened this season representing Serbia at the Hopman Cup, wearing a red polo incorporating his national colors—red, blue and white—in its design. Currently, the world No. 2 is wearing a colorful new line the he and apparel sponsor Tacchini collaborated on, which features a rainbow wave graphic prominently playing on the Serbian tri-colors across the front and back of the polo. There are also t-shirts and a track suit with Djokovic’s initials emblazoned on the bottom.
The two-time Australian Open champion has risen in the rankings while spiking sales and advanced orders for the Italian sportswear brand, which once clothed some of America’s top champions. Demand for the new Djokovic line exceeds supply; the new line should be available in most American retail stores in June.
"Novak’s continuing success in 2011 has been for sure a great boost for the brand exposure and for the demand from the consumers," Sergio Tacchini vice president Janny Tang says. "This positive trend is still going as he has not lost a match. We can say there is about a high double-digit increase from that of last year. No doubt the general interest in Sergio Tacchini brand has also grown. One interesting finding is that we have a tremendous increase in demand for junior sizes, which tells us that with Djokovic, we have succeeded in appealing to younger consumers."
Older tennis fans may remember Tacchini as the brand John McEnroe wore in his classic 1980 and 1981 Wimbledon finals against archrival Bjorn Borg. A 19-year-old Pete Sampras was wearing the Tacchini archer polo shirt when he won his first major at the 1990 U.S. Open. Goran Ivanisevic sported a Tacchini polo with a zipper placket when he out dueled Patrick Rafter to win Wimbledon in 2001. Martina Hingis was clad in a Tacchini top, skirt and headband (white, orange and green) when she raised the Rosewater Dish in 1997. Jimmy Connors, Vitas Gerulaitis, Gabriela Sabatini, Mats Wilander and Pat Cash have also endorsed the brand, which has endured a champion drought in recent years.
Seeking to gain exposure, Tacchini signed Djokovic to a 10-year sponsorship deal in the fall of 2009 after his existing apparel contract with adidas expired.
"It is important for the re-launch of the brand to have another great player and Novak Djokovic is definitely the one. He is young, passionate, charismatic and has a strong personality," Tang says. "The company has always had the ability and flair for spotting the No. 1 player and we trusted that Djokovic would be No. 1 soon. For this reason, Tacchini signed a contract with this young player to continue with the brand tradition of having great champions."
American retailers say Djokovic’s success has sparked interest in his new line.
"Nole’s amazing undefeated streak has certainly heightened consumer interest in his Sergio Tacchini apparel," says Tennis Express apparel buyer Arlet Allahaverdian. "We find most fans are requesting his colorful polo and crew shirts."
Djokovic is ahead of the pack on court, but his new line lags behind in reaching American stores.
"Interest in Djokovic’s line continues to be very strong," says Midwest Sports’ Dave Limke. "Unfortunately, we are only able to offer as a pre-order because it is not due in stock until mid to late June. Sergio Tacchini is working on lining up availability more closely to when he will wear it on court—that's been a bit of a struggle for them since signing Djokovic in 2010. I think the apparel-buying public is excited to see what some might view as a ‘new’ brand on the apparel scene, especially when it's being worn by the hottest player out there."
Some retailers speculate the brand underestimated Djokovic's potential impact on sales and didn't manufacture enough of his line, while others suggest the brand has been dealing with manufacturing challenges in Asia. Tacchini acknowledges demand for Djokovic’s line exceeds the brand’s distribution reach in the United States, creating "a shortfall of supply."
"We understand that there is a growing demand for the Djokovic line; somehow the demand exceeds our expectation thus causing a shortfall of supply in the (U.S.) market," Tang says. "Definitely, the U.S. is a huge potential market for us and we are planning a re-launch of the brand in the U.S. with the help of some strong and reliable local partners. At the moment we can help our U.S. customers through our on-line store (www.sergiotacchini.com) that serves all the customers around the world."
Unlike adidas, Nike, K-Swiss and Lacoste, which generally launch new lines for top stars for the four majors, Tacchini has timed its new Djokovic lines to launch at the Australian Open, Rome—where Tacchini serves as a sponsor—and the U.S. Open.
"Having Djokovic wearing a new line in Rome gives the brand even more visibility, especially for the Italian market," Tang says. "We will launch a specific T-shirt and outfit for a charitable event which will be organized by the Serbian and Chinese governments during the China Open and Shanghai ATP Masters."
Riding the wave of interest in Djokovic’s continued success, Tang says Tacchini has a vision that expands over the rainbow.
"Tacchini’s vision of the brand is to become the reference brand for tennis, as it was in the past."
Michael Russell faced world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten in the fourth round of the 2001 French Open as an overwhelming underdog empowered by a deep desire—to avoid embarrassment.
In his Roland Garros debut, the 5' 8" Detroit native wasn't exactly devising giant-killer plans against the 6'3" Brazilian with the huge heart and expansive reach. But Russell realized the enormity of his task: Beating the two-time French Open champion seemed as likely as sneaking into the Louvre to swipe the smile from the Mona Lisa's face.
"When I held serve first game, I was actually thinking to myself, 'Hey at least I can't lose 6-0, 6-0, 6-0'," Russell says with a smile. "I know, not very positive. However, as the match went on I realized that I could play with Guga and I was winning a lot of the rallies."
Hours later, Russell made believers of the shocked stadium crowd as he held match point and was poised to produce one of the most monumental upsets in Grand Slam history. (Seen 32 seconds into this video, after introductory text:)
The lanky clay-court maestro battled back, saving match point with a bold forehand winner to ignite a memorable 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-1 victory en route to his third Roland Garros title.
Kuerten and Russell—nicknamed "Mussell" for his devotion to fitness, evident in the muscles packed onto his 160-pound frame—are forever linked by their classic and for their roles as gear pioneers. They were two of the first pros to use Luxilon strings in tournament play, ushering in the era of offensive topspin that 1999 French Open champ Andre Agassi asserts has altered the angles of the game.
The 33-year-old Russell still plays with Luxilon, but will face 18th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon in his first-round match at this year's French Open armed with a new accomplice. The longtime Babolat Pure Drive player recently switched sticks and is now using the Dunlop Biomimetic 500.
Approaching the 10th anniversary of his stirring Roland Garros run, we caught up with Russell in Paris to discuss his game, gear and memories of Guga.
TENNIS.com: Michael, it's the 10th anniversary of the classic French Open match with Guga. What were your immediate memories and emotions from that day on court, and looking back now, what do you remember most about that near upset?
Michael Russell: The French Open in 2001 included everything that a Grand Slam should: craziness, excitement, disappointment and most of all, joy. It was my first time playing the French Open and I qualified for the event. I also set a record by qualifying, becoming the first person ever to qualify in all four Grand Slams in succession. I actually saved a match point in the last round of qualifying, how ironic!
The match with Guga was just incredible. I remember being in the locker room before the match and thinking that everybody probably thinks I am going to get destroyed, as I am a qualifier in the fourth round of the French Open playing against the number one player in the world. I was moving as if I was born on the clay and really had him flustered. He couldn't hit a ball by me, and he was losing his patience. I was really enjoying the battle on Philippe Chatrier Court that day and the whole tournament.
Watching the tapes, I was smiling after a lot of points, even ones that I lost. Of course, I was a little disappointed to lose after being so close, but I had such an incredible tournament and catapulted in to the Top 100 for the first time in my career. I will always have that special memory. Guga is a great champion and I won the hearts and cheers of many Parisians that day for coming so close to beating him at his best tournament.
TENNIS.com: Did you ever run into Guga in the locker room or at events after that match, and if so, did you two ever talk about it?
Michael Russell: Actually, we played against each other two years later in the second round of the Heineken Open in Auckland. Again we had a battle, that was completed over three days because of rain. He ended up beating me 6-4 in the third set and then winning the tournament. I joked with him after that tournament that if he played me and beat me, then he would win the tournament and should give me some of the prize money!
TENNIS.com: You beat Sergi Bruguera and Xavier Malisse at the French Open before the Guga match. What's your most satisfying win—either from then or now?
Michael Russell: Defeating Malisse in five sets was satisfying because it was my first five-set match ever and I pride myself on my fitness. We played on Court 2 which holds about 2,500 people and I think there were 3,000 Belgians there! My brother flew in that morning from Hong Kong to watch me play and battle for more than three hours. I consider almost every win satisfying because it usually means I was mentally, tactically or physically superior to my opponent, and that I was able to execute my game plan.
TENNIS.com: Why did you switch to Dunlop? When you make a racquet change, how much time does it take to adjust to the new equipment, and how do you approach that transition process?
Michael Russell: I switched to Dunlop on May 1. I had been play-testing Dunlop racquets since January and was able to make the switch after the Men's Claycourt Championships in Houston. I was looking for a racquet that had excellent power and spin. Dunlop worked with me to design a racquet that is best suited for my game, the Biomimetic 500. It takes a while to transition to a new frame because it's important to find the right string and ideal weight for the racquet. Most important, you have to play with the racquet in tournament situations, when nerves and pressure situations arise. Match conditions will determine if a racquet feels comfortable or not. I am very excited to be working and playing with a Dunlop frame.
TENNIS.com: Nate Ferguson, Roger Federer's and Pete Sampras’ stringer, told me he thought Guga was influential in equipment in that he was one of the first big-name players to play with Luxilon strings. What has been the biggest evolution in equipment since you turned pro, and how has that evolution changed your style?
Michael Russell: I think Guga was the first big name player to use Luxilon, and I believe I was the first American to use Luxilon. String and equipment have revolutionized the sport. The entire game has changed because of the equipment, and not just the speed and power. Tournaments have made the courts slower and tennis balls heavier to counteract the power, spin and speed of the new strings and racquet compositions. The courts and balls used to be faster, but the racquets not as powerful. Today, the average string tension is probably around 50 pounds whereas 10 years ago it was 60 pounds. Players are using polyester or polyester-gut hybrids strung loose to be able to hit the balls harder through the slower courts and heavy tennis balls.
TENNIS.com: You’re still a Top 100 player after 14 years on tour. What's been the key to your longevity and what keeps you motivated?
Michael Russell: I still love competing and playing tennis. My family has been extremely supportive my whole career. My mother and father help me on the court when I am at home. My wife, Lilly, travels with me full time and helps with me with my stretching routine, rehabilitation exercises, and she cooks when she is able to. My brother still keeps track of all my matches when he is at work, so I am very lucky to have such a strong team behind me. I spend a lot of time ensuring that my body is prepared for the rigors of the tour, which is much more demanding compared to 10 years ago. Recovery is key for me so I include massages, ice baths, hot epsom baths, yoga and proper nutrition to help me feeling and playing at my best.
TENNIS.com: You recently beat James Blake and played Donald Young in the Savannah Challenger. What do you think is the potential of Young, Ryan Harrison and other young Americans?
Michael Russell: Ryan and Donald are excellent players and have a lot of potential to do well on the ATP tour. Both of them have already had some very good results and I think with time, if they work hard mentally and physically, they can have successful careers.
TENNIS.com: What are your goals for the rest of the season?
Michael Russell: I would like to finish the year Top 50 or sometime in my career reach the Top 50, which is my ultimate ranking goal. My short-term goals are to continue to stay healthy and remain in the Top 100, playing as many tour events as possible.
TENNIS.com: Would you ever consider coaching after your playing days are over, and how many more years do you want to play?
Michael Russell: I would consider college coaching when I am finished playing on tour. I am currently finishing my Bachelors in Administration and will have my diploma in February 2012. Hopefully, this will create a lot of options for me both in the tennis and business world, depending which avenue I decide to take. I try to focus one year at a time, but if I could play two more years—until the end of 2013—it would be fantastic. My wife and I would like to start a family this year, so hopefully the whole family could enjoy the tour for a little while.
Babolat’s brand name will be as visible as ball marks on the terre battue next week at Roland Garros.
In a doubles partnership of high-profile French brands, Babolat has released a line of Roland Garros-range gear. The series spans the gear spectrum, including racquets, bags, a backpack, strings, grips, vibration dampeners and—what you'll see most often—the tournament's official ball.
The AeroPro Drive French Open racquet and matching Team Racquet Holder French Open bags (the larger bag holds 12 frames and retails for $79.95; a 6-racquet bag is $59.95) come in Roland Garros’ crushed red brick color cosmetic and lead the line. Reigning French Open singles champions Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone, as well as flashy Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, will all play with customized versions of the Aeropro Drive. The 10.6 oz. AeroPro Drive French Open frame comes in a 100-square-inch head size and carries an MSRP of $199. Tsonga is already playing with the red clay-colored racquet (see above picture).
This marks the second straight year Babolat has issued a commemorative racquet to coincide with the clay-court major. Last year, the brand released the Pure Drive 135, a red version of the blue Pure Drive, which Carlos Moya wielded when he won the 1998 French Open.
Targeting the junior market, Babolat has also released an 8.6 oz., 100-square-inch head AeroPro Drive junior French Open frame for $104 that the brand says is designed for players from four to 13 years of age.
Babolat benefited from black-out buzz last year as both Nadal and Schiavone played with the brand’s black strings in their title trips, prompting a rec player run on the strings in some areas. Aiming to build on that visibility and its Roland Garros partnership, Babolat has produced an all-black XCEL French Open string in 17, 16 and 15-gauge versions; MSRP: $18.95.
There's also the Custom Damp French Open dampener, if heavy topspin tennis shakes your strings, which retails for $5.95 (two per pack). For those who view their string damp as a mood mirror, the Loony Damp French Open dampener features the Roland Garros logo on one side and a smily face, in the same color, on the other.
Last but not least, Babolat succeeded Dunlop as the official ball supplier of the French Open, launching a five-year pact with the French Tennis Federation through 2015. The Babolat French Open All-Court Ball comes in three-ball cans for $4.25. While you'll only see the pros hit them on clay, it's designed for all surfaces.
Price: $250 Head Size: 105 square inches Length: 27.6 inches Weight: 9.7 oz. (unstrung), 10.2 oz. (strung) Balance: 5 points headlight (strung) Ideal Swing: Medium String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 25 mm/25 mm/25 mm NTRP: 3.0-4.5
How It Tested: The Organix 4 is the pop star of the Organix family: it has the broadest appeal, will be a hit with the widest range of players, and like an infectious summer song that sticks in your head, some won’t be able to put it down. Serves flew fluidly, groundstrokes crackled and it responded effectively at net.
Likes: Controllable power is the cornerstone of this racquet. If you’re an intermediate player with a medium swing, this racquet will provide the power needed to dictate baseline rallies and the control to counterpunch. Volkl has combined its Catapult technology—which the brand bills as providing a “deeper string bed pocket upon impact” for greater control—with Organix, a blend of carbon nano tubes for power and cotton cellulose fibers for feel, and the result is a cooperative frame that’s kind to both your arm and your aim.
Dislikes: This frame does not offend. The wider beam means the racquet doesn’t offer the razor-sharp touch of other Organix frames, but it does deliver a good blend of power and control with optimum comfort.
Bottom Line: Volkl has created a winner with a racquet that succeeds on several levels. The Organix 4 is a frame that can help a wide range of players, from the junior transitioning to a more mature frame, to intermediate baseliners, to older doubles players looking for an all-court racquet, to a 4.0 player seeking to put more bite on the ball.
TENNIS racquet advisor Bruce Levine is a former touring pro who has coached on both the men’s and women’s tours. Bruce is the general manager of Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., has worked as a full-time teaching pro for 30 years and lectures nationally on racquets and equipment.
Price: $240 Head Size: 98 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 11.5 oz. (unstrung), 12.1 oz. (strung) Balance: 7 points headlight (strung) Ideal Swing: Long String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 20 mm/20 mm/20 mm NTRP: 4.5-7.0
How It Tested: This is a very good all-court racquet, providing advanced players with the control and comfort they crave. While there was no specific “wow factor” in any single aspect of play testing, the frame performed admirably in all areas and capably competes with the best all-court options we’ve tested this season. A striking-looking cosmetic utilizes Volkl’s traditional black-and-yellow colors in its opti-spot technology—contrasting yellow bands located at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock on the black frame are designed to form a visual center and help the eye track the ball. However, testers did not notice a dramatic difference.
Likes: Given the fact it’s one of the heavier frames we’ve tested this season, this is an extremely smooth, stable racquet responsive from everywhere on the court. The handle of the Organix 10 325 is built with the Bio Sensor vibration dampening system, which is modeled on the mass dampener pendulum in skyscrapers. A chamber in the handle funnels vibration to a floating pin at the butt cap, which absorbs it.
Dislikes: A reliable and resilient racquet, there is no single head-spinning feature of this frame. You must have a long, fluid swing to use it. If you own a short swing or lack the strength required to generate racquet-head speed, you’ll likely be outgunned playing with this players' frame.
Bottom Line: If you’re an advanced all-court player who doesn't rely on a racquet to generate power, we highly recommend you demo this frame. At its best, Volkl is known for building comfortable, all-court, players’ sticks. This flagship frame fulfills that legacy.
TENNIS racquet advisor Bruce Levine is a former touring pro who has coached on both the men’s and women’s tours. Bruce is the general manager of Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., has worked as a full-time teaching pro for 30 years and lectures nationally on racquets and equipment.
Ana Ivanovic inspired a cross-dressing trek around the Arc de Triomphe after capturing the 2008 French Open title. Her coach at the time, Sven Groeneveld, and hitting partner Mats Merkel both donned the cherry-colored adidas dress Ivanovic wore on court in taking a victory lap around the famed monument and settling a bet they made before the fortnight.
The adidas dress Ivanovic will wear in Paris this month may not create similar cross-over appeal, but it does represent a return to red for the 22nd-ranked Serbian.
Yesterday, we provided a sneak peek of the clothes Nike has in store for its stars in Paris. Today, we preview the adidas apparel and shoes several top players will wear (available on www.shopadidas.com) when the French Open begins on May 22.
Ivanovic wore purple on the blue hard courts of the Australian Open in January, and will present a color-coordinated front at Roland Garros as she dons a red adiZero dress (MSRP: $70) and matching white and red adiZero Feather shoes (MSRP: $120) for the red clay courts.
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World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who wears the adidas by Stella McCartney line, will sport the Stella tank dress with blue ruffles (MSRP: $120) over an infrared tank (MSRP: $75), presenting a contrasting pop of color. The 100 percent polyester dress incorporates adidas' ClimaLite technology, designed to wick sweat off the skin and onto the surface of the garment for evaporation.
For dress-down days, Wozniacki has the pleated blue Stella tennis skirt (MSRP: $85) and Performance Tank (MSRP: $75) topped off by the Performance Short Sleeve Blue Jacket (MSRP: $175), which features double zippers.
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A French final four appearance has eluded Andy Murray so far, but the two-time Australian Open finalist will be dressed for dirty work with the blue Barricade Traditional Polo (MSRP: $60). It features adidas’ three white stripes emblazoned vertically on the sleeves and a pop of green on the button placket.
The polo is constructed with adidas’ ClimaCool ventilation, designed to keep players dry. Murary completes his on-court look with the Barricade shorts (MSRP: $45) and Barricade 6.0 clay-cour shoes (MSRP: $125).
French hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continues adidas' trend of going green in wearing a green, gray and white adiAce Traditional Polo (MSRP: $40) matched with the lead gray and "intense green" colored adiAce Bermuda short ($45).
The man from Le Mans also pays tribute to the tournament with the Roland Garros graphic emblazoned in white, above the left hem of the shorts, contrasting with the adidas brand logo near the right seam.
Keeping on the homage there, the flashy Frenchman will play with a customized version of the Babolat AeroPro Drive, which commemorates the French brand's partnership with Roland Garros in a new 'crushed red brick' color cosmetic. The 100-square inch head frame carries an MSRP of $199.
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Recent results have been bleak for Fernando Verdasco, but he will make a multi-colored statement in the City of Light. Verdasco will be outfitted in an orange adiZero Tee (MSRP: $55) with a splash of black and green.
In addition to the vibrant burst of color on the front, the brand's iconic stripes are angled across the sleeves, rather than placed vertically. A narrow band of black borders the bottom of the sleeve, matching the black-banded neck.
Verdasco will wear the black AdiZero Bermuda shorts (MSRP: $45) and black adiZero Feather shoes (MSRP: $120), which weigh about 14.7 oz.
Rafael Nadal will take to the terre battue with a bull's-eye on his chest and a bull on his back when he takes aim at his sixth Roland Garros title. The French Open begins on Sunday, May 22, and Nike has unveiled the clothes and shoes its top stars will be wearing there.
TENNIS.com will preview the apparel some of tennis' top stars will don in Paris—always a highly-anticipated moment among tennis fashionistas. Today we'll take a sneak peek at Nike's collection (available on Nike.com), with adidas' apparel to follow later this week.
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Nadal has been sporting a canary-colored shirt throughout most of the spring, but will go indigo when he launches defense of his Roland Garros crown. He'll wear the Nike Fearless Tierra men’s tennis shirt (MSRP: $65) featuring his trademark bull logo amid a sea of patterns on the back of the V-neck shirt. The rallying cry"Vamos Rafa!” is written on the inside of the neck.
"That blue color fighting with the clay he’s playing on is the story for the season," saya Janice Lucena, creative director of Nike tennis. "Rafa gives us direction on what he prefers. This is his most high-profile event of the season, by far, and the color choices are more critical here than they are at any other time of the year."
Both the blue top and white Ace Woven tennis shorts (MSRP: $65) Nadal will wear are made of Dri-FIT moisture-wicking fabric, designed to keep sweat away from the skin.
Throughout much of the season, Nadal has followed a post-match, dress-down ritual in shedding his shirt and zipping on a sweat jacket. In Paris, he’ll wear the Fearless tennis jacket (MSRP: $90) in blue and gray, with the bull logo in white near the right side pocket. For shoes, you'll see Rafa in the Nike Airmax Courtballistec 3.3, in blue and white (MSRP: $125). He wore this same model in white, light gray and red at January's Australian Open.
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Roger Federer saw his streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinal showings snapped by Robin Soderling at the 2010 French Open. For his return to the clay-court major, Nike has outfitted Federer with a polo built for speed.
The Federer Trophy Stripe polo (MSRP: $80) features the RF logo embedded at the bottom of the four-button placket with “Nike tennis” written on each button. A pattern of five horizontal, white racing stripes appears appears across the shirt. It represents a bit of a stylistic return for Federer, who wore a white-and-yellow polo with a shorter placket at the Australian Open; he'll return to four buttons for the French.
“Roger’s polo is really a story about speed. We wanted to pick a color and design that conveyed the idea of racing,” Lucena says. “We purposely started the stripe just in the lower part of the body to really highlight the detail.”
“Sonic welding,” a technique that eliminates seams on the armholes and shoulders, is designed to reduce irritation and provide more stretch to the shirt, Lucena says.
When he makes tracks across the clay, Federer will wear Nike Lunar Vapor 8 Tour shoes (MSRP $125) in red and white. Weighing in at about 13.8 oz., Nike touts the shoe as “ultra lightweight.”
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The French Open's Coupe Suzanne Lenglen is the only title trophy missing from Maria Sharapova’s major championship collection. This year, the Russian will try for it in apparel inspired by an iconic French image—the Eiffel Tower.
Sharapova showed shades of play in the peach and pale blue dress she wore in Melbourne. The lemon Maria Line 9 dress (MSRP: $120) she’ll wear in Paris takes its design aesthetic from the Tower, according to Nike designers, offering a yellow criss-cross pattern across the front.
“We really looked to the design of the (Eiffel Tower) in building something very strong yet lightweight and breathable,” Lucena says of the new dress, which offers a built-in bra for support and a double-layered skirt with a brighter yellow under layer, covered with a light-weight mesh top.
Matching white-and-yellow Lunarlon Speed 3 shoes (MSRP: $120) complete Sharapova’s outfit. The shoes feature extra durable rubber on the outsole and toe tip for protection and support when sliding.
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Former French Open champ Serena Williams isn’t expected to play in Paris, but the fashionista and HSN guest star still contributed her ideas to the Nike design team that produced the Serena Smash Knit dress ($90).
Serena’s cutting-edge approach has spanned the style spectrum in the past: She prowled the court in a skin-tight cat suit at the 2002 U.S. Open, honored tradition in wearing all-white dresses at Wimbledon, paid tribute to the Cameroon soccer squad in stepping into high socks at the 2002 French Open (she was wearing Puma at the time) and donned a denim skirt, black halter top, boots and jacket—with the word “Serena” spelled out in sparkling rhinestones—at the 2004 U.S. Open.
This pinkish-red Smash Knit dress offers a more traditional silhouette in Dri-FIT fabric with a square neckline and ruffled layer skirt.
Price: $300 Head Size: 115 square inches Length: 27.33 inches Weight: 9.2 oz. (unstrung), 9.8 oz. (strung) Balance: 8 points head heavy (strung) Ideal Swing: Short String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 26 mm/28 mm/28 mm NTRP: 2.5-4.0
How It Tested: The brightest star in Head’s Star Series game-improvement line, the Seven Star comes fully loaded with technology. It’s the only frame in the family with the full control ring, which Head says reduces string deformation on impact, offering maximum accuracy. The 115-square inch head combined with QuadFace technology—added to stretch the string bed and expand the sweet spot—gave players plenty of power on groundstrokes, yet it was not unbridled power. Testers said the frame was comfortable, and spin production came easily on both strokes and serves.
Likes: It provides comfortable power that can elevate a small swing to a more imposing impact, without making the arm feel as if its been burdened by swinging a barbell. The heaviest stick in the Star Series isn't bulky and was easy to navigate through the hitting zone. The Seven Star is 1/3 of an inch longer than standard-length frames, which some testers found beneficial on serves.
Dislikes: You likely won’t produce Bryan brother-like volleys around the net. This is the best-equipped member of the Star Series, though all that comes at a cost: it’s the most expensive frame in the family. If price is an issue, the Six Star and Four Star, which are both less expensive, both scored favorably with play testers, though neither of those frames are as fully loaded as this one.
Bottom Line: Club doubles players aiming to boost their power output and maximize their swings will get the most out of this frame. Beginners, players with shorter swings seeking help from a frame, or older players who have lost some pop on their shots will also benefit from the Seven Star.
TENNIS racquet advisor Bruce Levine is a former touring pro who has coached on both the men’s and women’s tours. Bruce is the general manager of Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., has worked as a full-time teaching pro for 30 years and lectures nationally on racquets and equipment.
