It’s soon time for the tennis season 2018 to start and we’re already spotting some racquet changes on the practice courts. Dimitrov has been seen with a new paint and Troicki with a new racquet.
Dimitrov is, as some of you loyal readers of this blog already knows, using not the endorsed Wilson Pro Staff 97S
 (which I really enjoy myself), but a smaller head size that’s not available in stores: a Wilson Pro Staff 93S (same 18×17 string pattern). Whether his new gold-black paint is just exactly that – paint or if he’s testing and tweaking his racquet again, is too soon to say,
I don’t think it makes a lot of sense however for him to change when his confidence must be riding on a high after winning the ATP World Tour Finals in November, so my guess is he’s still playing his Pro Staff 93S, but just endorsing the Wilson Custom paint shop.
Below you can see an image from prostocktennis.com who is selling a Dimitrov pro stock racquet with a balance of 33 cm and a weight of 352 grams.
Viktor Troicki with a Yonex DR 98 Blue?
Viktor Trocki has been a longtime user of the Pure Aero VS Tour (Pure Storm), but has been seen testing a Yonex DR 98 Blue
. I don’t know for sure if he’s made the switch yet, but it seems unlikely since Yonex would then have shipped him a batch of the new Yonex Ezone 98
. That’s why my hunch is that he’s just in a phase of testing a new racquet, perhaps looking for more comfort than the notoriously stiff and boardy VS Tour.
Other racquet switches etc
Doubles professional (with a famous brother) Jamie Murray has switched to Srixon Dunlop CX 2.0
.
Genie Bouchard has gone from Babolat to the new HEAD Graphene Touch Radical MP
.
Feliciano Lopez has instagrammed a pic of a reverse paint Wilson Ultra Tour
(read my review). Will we see this cool paint job in the shops? Maybe! Does he really use the Ultra Tour or H19 though? Click his name to find out what he plays.
French Open WTA champion Ostapenko was testing the HEAD MxG 3
 (read my review) in November, but is now back with her Wilson Blade 101L
.
As you can see there’s a lot of testing going on in the off-season and sometimes during the season as well. This goes to show that also professional players keep tweaking, testing and changing their equipment to get that extra percentage on court or get back some potential loss of confidence. This makes it a bit easier to be a racquetholic that starts doubting the equipment every time you have a bad tennis session!
If you want to see the Training with the Stars in Monte Carlo video from the ATP World Tour, it’s embedded below.
My latest YouTube video – Angell K7 Red and MSV Hex Focus Ultra
I also posted a video of my latest outing with the Angell K7 Red as well as some more hitting with the MSV Hex Focus Ultra
. Really like the Angell, so much that I’m starting to doubt playing with the Radical Tours! Maybe it will pass. Gotta stay strong. Gotta stay strong!
Which racquet will you be using in 2018? Are you in between frames or committed to one? Please comment below!
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10 comments
Are you planning on reviewing the Dunlop cx 2.0 tour? Would love to know, how it compares to the Wilson Ultra Tour and Radical Tour that your are using now. I am think of getting one but I am pretty satisfied with my Angell 95 Custom right now ( 330g 315mm HL).
Hi Franco,
Yes, I’m waiting on a review copy of the new Dunlop Srixon racquets. Really curious about the CX 2.0 Tour! The Angell is a nice stick however. Cheers / Jonas
Pospisil is now endorsing the blade. Wonder if her really switched or just new paint?
Hmmm…no idea. Might be time to change things up! But by the pics it looks like he’s still with his trusted Six One 95 (see the PWS) in a new paint job. Cheers / Jonas
Haagse is testing a biggetje racket head. He is looking forum more speed. He won the Dutch titel with it.
Interesting! Haase has used the Prestige Classic 600 for his whole career as far as I know. What is he swinging now? Cheers / Jonas
I mean bigger
He told it to a big Dutch newspaper. They didn’t go into details. It’s only testing. He used it at the Dutch championchips.
Alright, thanks!
Great site! :)
Just an FYI, and not that it truly matters, but Troicki was one of the pros who had actually switched to a Pure Aero when it was released. It was not just a paint job.