Babolat brand history
The history of the Babolat brand dates back to the second half of the 19th century. In 1875, a company specialising in the processing of natural gut for sausages, surgical thread, instrument strings and bows, under the leadership of Pierre Babolat developed the first natural gut strings for tennis racquets. This took place a year after Walter Clopton Wingfield wrote down the rules of tennis.
Brand development
In 1925, the company was taken over by Pierre Babolat's son - Albert, who developed the revolutionary Babolat VS tennis string. Stars such as Rene Lacoste, Björn Borg, Martina Navratilova and Suzanne Lenglen played with it. Exactly 30 years later, the first synthetic (nylon) string called Elascord was developed. The 1960s marked a turning point in Babolat's history, launching a complete range of racquet accessories, including leather or synthetic overgrips and Babol protection for gut strings. Yannick Noah wins the French Open against Mats Wilander in 1983. Both players use racquets strung with Babolat VS. Yannick becomes an icon of the sport in France and worldwide. Babolat wins many awards.
Babolat's first tennis racket
The year 1994 marks a turning point in the history of the brand. After more than a century at the top of the racquet accessories market, Babolat launches its first tennis racquets. Pierre Babolat creates the Pure Drive racquet, supporting a new style of play. Initially introduced in France, it was soon sold in Europe, the United States and Japan. The first player to win a Grand Slam with Babolat racquet was Spaniard Carlos Moya, triumphing at the French Open in 1998.
Tennis shoes and apparel from Babolat
In collaboration with the renowned French brand Michelin, a world expert in grip, and at the initiative of Eric Babolat, the company is launching its first tennis shoes. The combined experience of these two specialists has resulted in a product line offering guaranteed technical quality. After launching its first collection of apparel for club players, Babolat has offered a full range of badminton, tennis and padel equipment ever since. Along with an increase in footwear and apparel categories, Babolat continued to innovate in tennis with the release of an aerodynamic racquet adapted to modern playing styles - the Babolat Aeropro Drive. Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters stand at the top of the ATP and WTA rankings in 2005 with their Babolat Pure Drive racquets.
Rafael Nadal's great successes with the Babolat racquet
Young Spanish player Rafael Nadal has been playing with Babolat racquets and strings since the age of nine. At just 19 years old, Rafa won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open using an Aeropro Drive racquet designed specifically for him to enhance his extreme spin. Throughout his career to date, the outstanding Spanish tennis player has won a total of 22 Grand Slams and 36 Masters 1000 tournaments with the Babolat Pure Aero racquet.
Brand Ambassadors
Many top male and female tennis players play with Babolat equipment. We are referring to such names as:
• Rafael Nadal
• Carlos Alcaraz
• Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Cameron Norrie
• Garbine Muguruza
• Anett Kontaveit
• Leylah Fernandez
