The shadow swings Marion Bartoli takes between points reinforce her reputation as a player prepared to pounce on incoming shots. The Frenchwoman's pre-point preparation and her compact, two-handed strokes haven’t changed much since she reached the Wimbledon final four years ago, but her customized Prince racquet has evolved to suit her unique style.
The 11th-seeded Bartoli beat 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in this year's Roland Garros quarterfinals to collect her 400th career win. Though Bartoli’s bid to become the first Frenchwoman to reach the French final since Mary Pierce in 2005 ended in the semis, she produced her best result in 11 appearances in Paris. Bartoli followed that performance by beating three Top 10 players in succession—Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur and Petra Kvitova—to collect her sixth career title last weekend in Eastbourne. If the Wimbledon seeds hold true to form, Bartoli would face defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
Recognizing that her two-handed strokes restrict her reach, Bartoli worked with Prince to develop an extra-long racquet. The result is a 28 ½-inch long stick that is one-and-a half inches longer than the standard length. Prince says the 104-square inch racquet is a customized version of the EXO3 Black 104.
"Marion joined the Prince team about five years ago and we have been working with her constantly to create a racquet best suited for her style," Prince global tour director Helge Capell said. "Originally, she used the O3 Red when she first joined Prince. She switched to the EXO3 Black 104, which is our newest technology. Because she plays with the double-handed forehand and double-handed backhand she needs a little bit more reach on balls in the corner and this is where the extra length helps her."
Bartoli’s streamlined stick has shed some weight in recent years, as she’s playing with a racquet about 30 grams lighter than her prior frame.
"Marion’s racquet is 300 grams now and it was around 330 grams before," Capell said. "She was playing a pretty heavy racquet and then went to the longer racquet. In order to get the same amount of power and leverage, we reduced the weight of the racquet when she went longer. The lighter weight and longer frame helps her on the wide balls and also helps her get through the shot more on off-center shots, which happen when you’re in extreme situations sliding on the clay."
Reducing the weight of the racquet was also a concession to a tendon injury in her right hand that Bartoli sustained in 2004.
"I had a racquet at the time which was heavier, and on the grip it was a bit cutting. There was a big like bruise that started in my finger," Bartoli said. "I had to play the U.S. Open with a glove, [a] special big glove. I couldn't hold the racquet. I should not have too much pressure. Now I have a special grip on the handle of my racquet so that I have no pressure on my finger. In fact, it's the tendon in the hand that reaches this finger which is damaged or injured, which will never heal."
Before each Grand Slam tournament, Capell and the Prince team deliver new racquets to Bartoli with most major customization changes occurring in the offseason.
"Marion is very open to testing and always wants to take her game to the next level," Capell said. "She plays half gut and half polyester string so she will sometimes change her tension depending on the surface."
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France’s most successful singles players in Paris—Bartoli and men’s quarterfinalist Gael Monfils—both play with Prince racquets. The New Jersey-based brand furthered its French connection by debuting the Tour Team Collection bags, a new version of the Rebel shoe and the new EXO3 Tour Team 100 racquet last month at Roland Garros. Playing on the color concept of red clay, the new gear shares the same black-and-copper color combination, creating a uniformity based on the crushed red brick.
"The entire line debuted at the French Open and the concept of the color tie-in is taking the visual cues from the French Open to a more futuristic, technical colorway," Prince vice president of global communications Zach Perles said. "So that dusty red brick color is a shinier more metallic orange in the new Prince line. Viktor Troicki, David Ferrer and Albert Montanes were among the Prince players who debuted the bag at the French Open. Gael Monfils and the Bryan brothers play with the Prince Rebel, so they carried the iconic green tour team bag."
The EXO3 Tour Team racquet retails for $169. The new orange-and-black Rebel shoes sell for $99. Prince offers three versions of its Tour Team Collection bags; the 12-pack costs $89, the 6-pack sells for $69 and the backpack retails for $49. For more information, visit www.princetennis.com.
The All England Club's all-white clothing rule may invoke images of apparel austerity, but some of the most eye-popping moments in tennis fashion have come at Wimbledon.
Hall of Fame tennis dress designer Ted Tinling caused an SW19 scandal when he outfitted Gertrude "Gorgeous Gussy" Moran with lace panties in 1949. Tinling designed distinctive dresses for a series of champions, including Maureen Connolly, Billie Jean King, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong and Martina Navratilova. In 1985, American Anne White created a stir by wearing an all-white, skin-tight body suit at The Championships; 18 years later, Venus Williams paid tribute to the 1930s, sporting a Reebok dress with a modified corset on its back, designed by Diane Von Furstenberg.
Serena Williams delivered a 6-3, 6-2 dress down of Vera Zvonareva in the 2010 final, and the defending champion looks forward to dressing up upon her return to Wimbledon, as she takes aim at collecting her third consecutive title. "I'm excited to get in my new dress. I'm excited to be on the grass and be in the white and just be at Wimbledon," Serena said. "To me, there's nothing like being at Wimbledon."
The tournament begins on Monday, and Nike has unveiled its London Collection of clothes and shoes, to be worn by its top women. Williams, for one, will hit the court wearing the Smash Lawn Tennis Dress (MSRP: $85, Nike.com). The Dri-Fit V-neck dress is trimmed with blue and features vertical seams and a pleated skirt to highlight her movement across the court.
While Williams says she's toyed with the idea of testing the all-white rule—"I kind of like purple for Wimbledon, because it's kind of like purple and green, kind of cool colors. I might play around with those colors."—she'll wear something similar to last year's dress, which had red trim. And we know how that worked out.
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Maria Sharapova wore a Nike dress when she beat Serena in 2004 to win Wimbledon at age 17, and will try to regain the Rosewater Dish wearing a touch of gold. Sharapova will sport the Maria Ace Lawn Dress, which sells for $125.
The dress is made of Nike's Dri-Fit fabric, designed to wick sweat from the skin, and comes with a double-layered skirt, created to provide ventilation and comfort. A racer-back silhouette is complemented with embroidered detailing and gold piping on the front of the dress, with Nike's trademark swoosh emblazoned in gold across the left chest. The fifth-seeded Russian will wear matching white-and-gold Lunarlon Speed 3 shoes (MSRP: $120), which feature extra-durable rubber on the outsole and toe tip for protection and support.
The player behind the brand will also bring a bit of bling to the court, wearing Tiffany Legacy diamond drop earrings during the fortnight.
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The All England Club's apparel rule recalls the days when impeccable style was rooted in the cut of the clothes, rather than their color. Newly crowned Roland Garros champion Li Na, who prefers playing in a skirt and polo shirt rather than a tennis dress, continues that trend in an outfit that merges modern performance with a traditional cut.
Li will wear the Smash PES Capsleeve Polo ($55) and Nike Smash Classic Pleated Skirt ($50). The cap sleeves are designed for a greater range of motion, and a contoured bodice is built to enhance the fit of the three-button, placket shirt, which features a fabric collar. Similar to the skirt Li wore in Paris, it's made from Dri-Fit fabric and features pleated panels at the bottom.
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While other Grand Slam center courts are wallpapered in sponsor signage like sales signs in a shopping mall, Wimbledon's Centre Court is nearly devoid of logos, creating a spare, serene stage for the featured performers on the grass.
Victoria Azarenka will try to make her mark in London wearing the Set Point Knit Dress (Click here for photo), which sells for $80 in sizes ranging from extra small to extra large. The dress, which is made of 92 percent Dri-Fit polyester and 8 percent spandex, features a halter-inspired, four-way stretch straps and and built-in bra. An empire waist augments the fit.
Darren Cahill has felt his heart race faster than a Tour de France leader in Paris—the Aussie faced world No. 1 Ivan Lendl on Court Chatrier in the third round of the 1989 French Open—and the ESPN analyst was enjoying the rush of Roger Federer’s semifinal thrill-ride win that snapped Novak Djokovic’s 43-match unbeaten streak.
A coach for all ages, Cahill has made his mark in coaching the youngest year-end No. 1—Lleyton Hewitt—and the oldest No. 1, Andre Agassi. The 45-year-old Adelaide native has also worked with Fernando Verdasco, Caroline Wozniacki, Andy Murray and Federer, among others.
Two years ago, Cahill opted against donning the "RF" cap as Federer’s potential coach, instead signing on to wear the distinctive three stripes of adidas and join its coaching team. The move reunited him with friend and fellow Las Vegas resident Gil Reyes, whom he worked with when he coached Agassi, and Sven Groeneveld, who guided Ana Ivanovic to the 2008 Roland Garros title.
We caught up with Cahill in Paris for his views on a wide range of topics: the new Babolat balls being used at Roland Garros, speculation that Federer may experiment with a larger-headed Wilson frame, his choice for coach of the year and his assessment of the men’s final.
TENNIS.com: Darren, now that we’ve come to the end of Roland Garros, what’s your view on the switch to the Babolat balls, and how did it impact the event?
Darren Cahill: I think the balls were fine. They just had different playing characteristics to the previous Dunlop ball that was used here. A bit more important was the fact that Babolat balls weren’t used for any of the big clay-court events leading up to Roland Garros, so most players weren’t able to use them in tournament play. The talk of the balls kind of disappeared once the players got used to them. I know how quickly these Babolat balls play off the frame, and you’ve seen they’ve been very good for serving. It would have been great to use them for one or two Masters events before the French Open to help the players adjust more quickly, but they did adjust.
TENNIS.com: In his book, Agassi writes about how losing to Paradorn Srichaphan at Wimbledon, along your input, encouraged him to switch to polyester strings, which he says helped extend his career. There’s been much speculation Federer is considering experimenting with a larger-headed Wilson racquet. Would you encourage him to try it?
Darren Cahill: That’s something only Roger can answer. I think he’s playing very, very good tennis. Roger has had a good season, his results have been consistently good. His forehand has been terrific and his serving has been amazing. He played one of the best clay-court matches I’ve seen him play against Djokovic. So I think Roger is still playing at a very, very high level with the racquet he’s enjoyed so much success playing.
TENNIS.com: Did you get a chance to talk to Murray after his semifinal loss to Rafael Nadal? What did you think of his performance?
Darren Cahill: No, I didn’t get a chance to talk to him. I thought Andy had a great tournament. There was a lot of pressure on him after Australia, and having a look through the draw at the French Open, I thought he had a very makeable opportunity to make a good run, which he did. I thought Andy showed a lot of heart and courage and guts playing through that partially torn tendon in his ankle. Andy would probably tell you he didn’t play his best tennis in the semifinal, but he can take the fact he competed so hard in that match. I don’t think he was as brave or aggressive enough on the big points against Rafa, but honestly that's very tough to do against Rafa over the best-of-five sets on clay.
TENNIS.com: Will you continue coaching Murray in preparation for Wimbledon and the U.S. Open?
Darren Cahill: My TV duties kick in pretty much through the U.S. Open, so I will be spending a lot of time doing television work. I spent a couple of weeks getting to know Andy. Really, more than anything, it was just a little bit of tinkering and a talking a lot about tennis; what kind of tennis he wants to play and what type of player he wants to be. Andy has got a pretty good team in place already. It’s not just me, but the rest of adidas program as well. So Sven Groeneveld has been working (with him) as well.
TENNIS.com: Which coach has had the most impact in the first half of the season? Who would you pick as coach of the year so far?
Darren Cahill: That’s a good question. I would point to the endurance factor and go with Marian Vajda, for the job he’s done coaching Novak Djokovic. Marian and Novak have been together for a long, long time. They’ve had their struggles over the years, but they’ve stuck together and obviously the results speak for themselves as Novak is playing his best tennis, having tremendous success. I think Marian has almost become more like a big brother or second father to Novak. It takes time for a coach to truly understand a player and earn their trust. I think Novak has grown up a lot on the tennis court, he’s fighting extremely hard every match and not getting down on himself. So I give Marian a big tick of approval for the job he’s done.
On the women’s side, I give a shout out to Michael Mortensen for his work with Li Na. When you think about it, Li had an Andy Murray moment after losing the Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters. She sort of got down on herself, wasn’t winning, and it was a struggle for her. Going into Madrid, she took on Mortensen, and I think he’s done a marvelous job in encouraging Li that she can be a very good clay-court player, and getting her to believe in her game and make the most of her considerable talent. I know Michael well; he’s one hell of a guy and I think he deserves a lot of credit for the work he’s done with Li.
TENNIS.com: Can you give me a men’s final prediction?
Darren Cahill: I haven’t seen Roger serve like this for many, many years. Roger is serving tremendously well. The ball is just jumping off of his racquet, and anyone who saw the semifinal against Novak knows how cleanly Roger is striking the ball. He has been mixing his backhand effectively and playing with a lot of confidence and positive emotion.
You can never bet against Nadal on five sets in a French Open final. He’s lost only one time in seven years, and Rafa will be highly motivated to tie Bjorn Borg’s record of six French Open titles. I think Rafa will be happier to face Roger in the final than he would have been facing Novak; Rafa and Roger have played four times before at the French Open and Rafa has won every time, holding a 16-8 edge overall. Rafa knows he will bear down on Roger’s one-handed backhand, and that play certainly has that wear-down factor on Roger and just about any guy playing a single-handed backhand. Based on the way Roger has played this tournament and the great champion he is, I give him a real chance in the final. As you know, I have a real soft sport for Roger; I would love to see him win his 17th major here in Paris. Obviously, Rafa has never lost a French Open final and is one of the greatest champions we’ve seen, so it’s very hard to go against Rafa. I certainly give Roger a real chance of winning and I think it will be a fascinating final.
Price: $229 Head Size: 115 square inches Length: 27.25 inches Weight: 9.0 oz. (unstrung), 9.5 oz. (strung) Balance: 3 points head heavy (unstrung), 6 points head heavy (strung) Ideal Swing: Short String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 27 mm/30 mm/27 mm NTRP: 2.0-4.0
How It Tested: Flat-ball hitters, pushers and grinders with short strokes appreciated accessing the power this racquet provides. For the power-challenged, using this racquet is like replacing a faulty flickering flashlight with a spotlight: instant illumination. Most play testers said the racquet performed best at the baseline and wasn't as adept when involved in rapid-fire exchanges at net.
Likes: The lightest and most powerful frame in Prince's EXO3 line, the Silver 115 has all the bells and whistles in a feather-light frame that offers plenty of power and comfort. Prince reduced the head size and diminished the length compared to prior versions of the Silver in an effort to improve feel. It's a very forgiving frame, particularly for flat-ball hitting baseliners; you can miss the sweet spot yet still generate enough pace to drive deep shots.
Dislikes: Of the three frames in Prince's game-improvement Thunder Series line (the EXO3 Blue 110 and EXO3 Red 105 are the others), this racquet has the thickest beam and was the least maneuverable at net. For that reason, it isn't the best choice for serve-and-volleyers, or players who prefer to play chip-and-charge tennis.
Bottom Line: If you're looking for massive power in a lightweight stick, the EXO3 Silver may well fill the bill. You can take a significant cut at the ball without worrying about it flying off the back wall.
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: $235 Head Size: 98 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 10.7 oz. (unstrung), 11.3 oz. (strung) Balance: 6 points head light (strung) Ideal Swing: Medium to long String Pattern: 16 mains/20 crosses Beam Width: 22.5 mm/22.5 mm/22 mm NTRP: 4.0-7.0
How It Tested: The latest release from Yonex aims to reinforce the Japanese brand’s reputation for playability while broadening its appeal to a wider demographic. The V Core line consists of the 95 D (endorsed by Lleyton Hewitt), the 98 D (Juan Monaco’s racquet of choice) and the stiffer 100 S, which earned international attention when world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki switched to it at the start of the season. Of the trio, the 98 D had the broadest appeal among play testers, who said it offered the optimum range of power, clarity and control. The open string pattern offered enhanced spin, while flat-ball hitters said the head size enabled them to drive groundstrokes without sacrificing feel.
Likes: The racquet offers enough clout to withstand blows from baseline bashers while sustaining control. Play-testers who are regular Yonex users said this stick was sharper than prior models, and several preferred the V Core to the E-Zone.
Dislikes: While the frame was maneuverable around the court, some play testers said they were consistently challenged when snapping the racquet through contact on serve and overheads. Players accustomed to playing with a more rounded racquet head may experience some adjustment to the more rectangular shape of the Yonex hoop.
Bottom Line: If you’re an aggressive baseliner who thrives with a smaller head and heavier frame, the 95 D may suit your needs. Players who enjoy a larger sweet spot and more face space in a lighter spec may prefer the 100 S. This is also a good choice for players seeking to transition up from a tweener frame to a higher-performance player frame.
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: $220 Head Size: 98 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 10.7 oz. (unstrung), 11.3 oz. (strung) Balance: 6 points headlight (unstrung), 2 points headlight (strung) Ideal Swing: Medium to long String Pattern: 18 mains/20 crosses Beam Width: 20.6 mm flat beam NTRP: 4.0-7.0
How It Tested: Players residing on the upper end of the NTRP scale said this frame was enjoyable to use from everywhere on the court. The thinner beam allowed for precise shotmaking, and players capable of taking full cuts cracked powerful, penetrating strokes.
Likes: Strength and stability make this frame a game-changer for the polished player. Play-testers with full, fluid swings launched missiles from the backcourt and praised the frame’s deft feel at net. Advanced players will relish the racquet’s responsiveness across the shot spectrum. The racquet comes in two cosmetics: black/gold and black/pink.
Dislikes: This frame is not for the meek of game; a rather hefty 335 swing weight and tighter string pattern means you must bring some pace to get the most out of it.
Bottom Line: Wilson has created another winner with the Blade 98 BLX. Like a fencer with a favorite foil, an accomplished all-courter will thrive with this frame.
Additional Comments from Bruce Levine:
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: $190 Head Size: 100 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 11.1 oz.(unstrung), 11.7 oz. (strung) Balance: 8 points headlight (unstrung), 4 points headlight (strung) Ideal Swing: Long String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 24 mm/26mm/23 mm NTRP: 4.5-7.0
How It Tested: For testers teeing off on the ball with full, fluid swings, the Extreme Pro provided the rotation they craved. NTRP play testers 4.5 and above popped topspin shots that dive-bombed near the baseline. For many testers, the racquet was more comfortable and effective from the baseline than at net.
Likes: Offering a very solid feel, the racquet can help create expansive spin. While it is the heaviest frame in the Extreme family, it wasn't cumbersome from the baseline. The racquet was responsive on flat, kick and slice serves. The aggressive black-and-yellow cosmetic could attract younger players.
Dislikes: Due to its heavier swingweight, this racquet isn't as comfortable or maneuverable at net as it is from the baseline. The stiffest stick in the YouTek Extreme series, it is a touch more stable, but offers a slightly more dampened response than the prior version of the Extreme.
Bottom Line: Head recommends this frame for players with medium to long swings, but you must have a full swing to receive the greatest benefit. (If you have a medium swing, try the IG Extreme MP, which is 5 oz. lighter.) In the right hands, this racquet can go toe-to-toe with the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick.
Additional Comments from Bruce Levine:
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: $190 Head Size: 100 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 10.6 oz. (unstrung), 11.2 oz. (strung) Balance: 2 points headlight (strung) Ideal Swing: Medium to long String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 24 mm/26 mm/23 mm NTRP: 4.0 and above
How It Tested: A lighter version of the YouTek IG Extreme Pro by 15 grams, the Extreme MP offers virtually all of the same characteristics of the heavier frame but feels more maneuverable at net and was more forgiving on off-center hits. You'll know if you hit the ball off-center, but this racquet won’t take a toll on your arm or compel you to reach for post-match Advil.
Likes: This stick presents terrific transitional possibilities for a talented junior seeking to move up to an adult frame. The Extreme MP can produce ample spin and performs solidly from all areas of the court. Aggressive baseliners and all-court players should embrace this frame like a long-lost friend.
Dislikes: Some testers experienced a hollow feeling on off-center hits, while others felt the frame wasn't authoritative on overheads. Head’s distinctive flatter grip presented an adjustment for some testers.
Bottom Line: Aggressive baseliners who generate rapid racquet-head speed will enjoy ripping the ball, and all-court players should find this to be a stable and responsive racquet.
Additional Comments from Bruce Levine:
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.
