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Alcaraz and Babolat extend contract until 2030
August 29, 2023
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and BABOLAT, the world leading tennis brand, announce partnership extension for 7 years until 2030
Tennis’ new superstar Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, only 20-years-old, has played and won with BABOLAT in his hand since he was 10 and will continue to until at least 2030. The seven-year extension to his contract with Babolat, the tennis specialized company born in France in 1875, was announced in New York City.
The newly crowned Wimbledon champion, who has been playing with his BABOLAT Pure Aero 98 – and BABOLAT RPM Blast strings – after embarking on his successful US Open campaign in 2022, signed the latest extension of his contract alongside Eric BABOLAT, the Chief Executive Officer of BABOLAT, and the great-great-grandson of the firm’s founder. Babolat has equipped tennis lovers worldwide for nearly 150 years, from club players to the all-time greatest champions: René Lacoste, Arthur Ashe, Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Li Na, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki and Rafa Nadal to name a few.
“For more than 10 years now, Babolat experts have been constantly working close with me to provide the best tennis equipment for my performance. Playing with my Pure Aero 98strung with RPM Blast is more than just having a tennis racquet,” Alcaraz said. “It means I’m a member of the BABOLAT family, and that there are people at BABOLAT I think of as part of my team. They listen carefully to my needs and my feedback, and it’s a constant, constructive two-way process. As a result, I have always been happy with the performance and feel of the frames and strings, and extending this long-term partnership makes total sense.”
Eric BABOLAT added,
“For us, sport is not just about success, but about attitude and values. Carlitos Alcaraz is a great role model who shares our values: “no gut, no glory,” and he is such an inspiration for the younger generation, and for all tennis fans. You could see how people warmed to him in Roland Garros and Wimbledon. His positive energy, on court creativity, great sportsmanship, and pure enjoyment when playing tennis really connects with everyone. We are very happy to continue a relationship with Carlitos, which started 10 years ago when he was only 10 years old, for at least another seven years, and to work with him to make history and inspire the tennis world.”
Carlos Alcaraz signed his first contract with BABOLAT in Spain at the age of 10. At 13, he joined the international BABOLAT team, and at just 20 he is the youngest world No. 1in tennis history and already has two Grand Slam titles to his name (US Open 2022,Wimbledon 2023).
Alcaraz, who began playing tennis at age 4, has always played with BABOLAT racquets and strings. Playing with a Babolat Pure Aero when he signed with BABOLAT, he later needed for a racquet that brought him a little more control and switched to the Babolat Pure Aero VS which has a smaller head size of 632 cm² (98 in²) (compared to the 645 cm² (100 in²) head size of the Pure Aero). The frame is slightly more squared beam, more streamlined, and slimmer while still being a dynamic racquet, something that he likes a lot. Since the start of the 2022 US Open, Carlos has played with the BABOLAT Pure Aero 98 racquet, an updated version of the Pure Aero VS, and strings it with BABOLAT’s RPM Blast strings (gauge 130/16).
About Babolat
Founded in Lyon, France, in 1875, one year after the rules of tennis were established, Babolat is the oldest international company specialized in tennis. A pioneer of innovation, Babolat invented tennis strings in 1875 and launched its first racquets in 1994. Family-run for five generations, Babolat is an innovative brand providing a complete range of equipment for all lovers of tennis, pickleball, badminton, and padel, including racquets, strings, shoes, apparel, balls and shuttles, bags, and accessories. Babolat officially equips more than 500 professional athletes in the world for tennis, pickleball, padel, and badminton performances (racquets, strings, footwear, apparel and bags).Babolat clubs’ network counts 20,000 locations in some 150 countries around the world. Babolat is official Wimbledon partner for racquets, strings, footwear, bags and racquet servicing.
BABOLAT UK MEDIA CONTACT Aidan Gravesonagraveson@babolat.com+44 (0) 7917682225
BABOLAT INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CONTACT Shirley Ribeiroshirley@zrcommunication.com+33 (0)7 87 24 04 00