Anna-Lena Groenefeld broke her racquet.

[Ethan04]

what happened to her racquet?? How could anyone broke a racquet like this?

http://www.tennis.com/uploadedimages/NNTP_Photos/67289_Qatar_Tennis_Open.sff.jpg
http://www.tennis.com/uploadedimages/NNTP_Photos/97290_Qatar_Tennis_Open.sff.jpg

[Gemini]

It happens. I've had several racquets snap in half at the throat. Usually there's a crack near where the handle meets the throat and one good swing will cause the racquet to go.

I was watching Xavier Malisse play Stefan Koubek in the final round of qualifying when the ATP had a stop here in Atlanta. I was sitting right next to Malisse's entourage and he looked over at us and pointed at his racquet. He then wiggle the racquet a bit indicating that something was wrong. On the next return of serve, the head of his racquet completely snapped off. It's not as unusual as you might think.

[jelle v]

I think it happened to Mariano Zabaleta (?) once with his Head racket. I think it was a Head ProTour 630 he was playing with.

I cannot imagine how this sort of thing can happen. Must be a construction flaw, or maybe the racket got thrown around too much. :confused:

[drake]

Too much weight behind that racquet.

[Feña14]

It happened to Safin at one of the clay Masters Series events a few years back, I think he hit the racket on the floor the point before but carried on using it, he then hit a serve into the net and the head went flying :)

She looks like she's lost a bit of weight too in those pics, she was looking horrifically out of shape last time I saw her.. She made Serena look like a lampost :|

[LarougeNY]

did'nt she gain weight? I remember watching her play once and she looked really skinny. not hantuchova skinny, but thin.

[Buckeye10s]

I think it happened to Mariano Zabaleta (?) once with his Head racket. I think it was a Head ProTour 630 he was playing with.

I cannot imagine how this sort of thing can happen. Must be a construction flaw, or maybe the racket got thrown around too much. :confused:

Yeah I could see that happening to Head racquets...;)

[Feña14]

did'nt she gain weight? I remember watching her play once and she looked really skinny. not hantuchova skinny, but thin.

Your right, she did used to be pretty normal looking for a tennis player but then she really got big. Looks like things are getting back to normal though which is good :)



BEFORE

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41704000/jpg/_41704120_groenefeld_ap300.jpg

AFTER

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/dd/fullj.getty-tennis-wta-dubai_open-germany-groenefeld_8_56_40_am.jpg

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=119215&highlight=groenefeld

[AndrewD]

I cannot imagine how this sort of thing can happen. Must be a construction flaw, or maybe the racket got thrown around too much. :confused:

The racquet becomes fatigued due to use and the number of re-strings that have been through it. The pros - male and female- consistantly hit the ball with far more power than 99.9% of players so they put considerably more strain on their equipment than we do.

[apothnyc]

OMG....She ate it...yummy.

[Roy]

Off topic, but which strings and what tension does she use ?? Just wondering.

Thanks.

[Pete.Sampras.]

It looks pretty funny actually... :D

I've seen something like this happen a few times now. I hope it will not happen to me soon. One of my PS85s has a crack below its head and it looks pretty big already. Unfortunately, even if something like that happens I won't get any pictures of it :p

[officerdibble]

Too much weight behind that racquet.

LOL My sentiments exactly :D

[armand]

what happened to her racquet?? How could anyone broke a racquet like this?Insiders say she had accidentally sat on her racquet in the previous changeover.

[Guga_x]

LOL

armand thanx for making me laugh!

[Ronny]

still not as big as serena!

[vudal]

OMG....She ate it...yummy.

Yea, she ate Serena in her belly

[chaz_233]

Hmmm, maybe a DNX collar would help.

[fr600]

hahahaha...