Sampras is staying with Wilson, not going to Babolat

As posted by Agassi-Fan:

Dont know if anyone mention this already but there was just a great article on tennis.com with an interview with Sampras after his Garden match with Agassi.

Sampras said he is working with "Wilson" about developing him a new raquet and that is why he is using a blacked out frame. He was very specific about saying he is with "Wilson" and that they are developing him a new frame. He never mention babalot at all and didnt speak about how he has been using their frame for the past few months.

http://www.tennischannel.com/news/Ne...px?newsid=8756

excerpt:

Sampras has been trying some different frames over the last six months and used one of those in New York against Agassi, but as he explains, “Wilson and I are working together on a racket that works for me. The strings with these new frames have given me the ability to hit the ball flat with control and it helps me generate more power and spin on the rest of my shots. The technology has got to a point where it is as far as you can possibly take it. With these powerful rackets, it gives me the ability to swing hard and have control while generating a lot more spin. I can feel it on my second serve and on high backhands. It is easier to generate more power from above my shoulder, and you can just really feel the spin. It is easier on my body and easier on my arm. It really makes tennis more tolerable to play. I remember playing Verdasco last year in San Jose and his ball was jumping and kicking. A lot of it is the way guys are hitting the ball but a lot of it is the technology as well. I have enjoyed experimenting and coming full circle from a guy who didn’t want to try anything to a guy willing to try a lot of different rackets and strings. But at the end of the day I am working with Wilson to find the right one for me.”

I was right all along.

Babs = fail

I have a feeling this is going to be a close replica of the Babolat Sampras was using.

JoelDali said:

I was right all along.

Babs = fail

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Or, he likes the Pure Storm so much, he told Wilson to make one for him...

Just a quick thought. If it's come to this point, where basically, Sampras is probably not going to be playing with something very similar to what he used to play with and is very similar to other modern frames - why does Wilson bother working so hard to come up with a new Sampras stick?

I can see the appeal of the nostalgia of playing with a classic Sampras frame, as it might give you a glimpse of the classic feel of an older frame and represents his achievements in the past. However, I don't see the attraction of buying the latest Sampras stick if it's just a reflection of what other players are using now, but doesn't have much of a connection with Pete's achievements other than his name on it.

My two cents FWIW…

The biggest LOL in all of this is to see what Rajeev Rampras does now.

Just a wild guess here, but I'll bet some endorsement money had something to do with all this. When Sampras quit, the Wilson money dried up. When he started showing up for these exo's, he must have asked for a new endorsement deal and didn't get what he wanted. So maybe he picked up the Babolat to shame Wilson into coughing up a few bucks, and now they've come through.

Could this all be a big show by wilson?

I mean: he uses a bobolat and talks about how much a modern racket helps him. he even advises federer to use a bigger frame.

And now he "developing" a new super racket from wilson and when it's ready he will talk about how great it is. and then anyone wants to have that new "wonderweapon".

Much more publicity for wilson and the new racket, then if he had stayed with his old frame.

And it works. look how many threads there are about rogers and petes racket. people here act like the racket would make all the difference.

I would not be surprised if roger will then also change to that new frame. (likely just a little stiffer and larger frame like wilson already has a ton of) and then both act like it's a revolution. would be a great set up.

dominikk1985 said:

Could this all be a big show by wilson?

I mean: he uses a bobolat and talks about how much a modern racket helps him. he even advises federer to use a bigger frame.

And now he "developing" a new super racket from wilson and when it's ready he will talk about how great it is. and then anyone wants to have that new "wonderweapon".

Much more publicity for wilson and the new racket, then if he had stayed with his old frame.

And it works. look how many threads there are about rogers and petes racket. people here act like the racket would make all the difference.

I would not be surprised if roger will then also change to that new frame. (likely just a little stiffer and larger frame like wilson already has a ton of) and then both act like it's a revolution. would be a great set up.

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Publicity - true, but I wonder if it will end up with any sales? What's the appeal of a new Sampras super stick if the only thing it's winning are exhibitions and matches on the "senior" tour?

BTW- No way Federer switches to a Sampras branded racket. His signature is already on the 6.1 - no way he gives up that endorsement money.

JRstriker12 said:

BTW- No way Federer switches to a Sampras branded racket. .

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Do u honestly think a single person here would think that?

JoelDali said:

Do u honestly think a single person here would think that?

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Ahem..... (see quote below).

dominikk1985 said:

...
I would not be surprised if roger will then also change to that new frame. (likely just a little stiffer and larger frame like wilson already has a ton of) and then both act like it's a revolution. would be a great set up.

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JRstriker12 said:

Ahem..... (see quote below).

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My apologies, oye...

JoelDali said:

My apologies, oye...

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No prob

I don't see Pete using a Bab copy with a Wilson label.

Look out for a KPS 93.

JoelDali said:

The biggest LOL in all of this is to see what Rajeev Rampras does now.

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He's already switched to the pure storm.

What I find interesting is even though he's gone to a larger frame Sampras still leads up his racket to 13.9oz.

leonidas1982 said:

He's already switched to the pure storm.

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Understood, my point is, once he hears Pete has a new Wilson stick will he switch and follow his hero.

JoelDali said:

Understood, my point is, once he hears Pete has a new Wilson stick will he switch and follow his hero.

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Rampras is already in talks to go back to Wilson the moment the new Petros sticks come out. He’s probably losing sleep at night hoping they’ll take him back

Ram switched to Babs around the same time Pete was demoing if I'm not mistaken.

JoelDali said:

Ram switched to Babs around the same time Pete was demoing if I'm not mistaken.

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Rampras doesn't even try to hide it anymore. He's embracing his fanboyism

Seriously, if he switches in the next 6 months I will LOL so effen loud.

Proto..........

Ron Rocchi told me that Wilson was going to get Pete back, when I asked him about it, last Oct. Guess he was really serious, especially since Wilson has been trying to get Pete to go to a bigger frame for some time. I am sure that Fed has also toyed with the proto when he was practicing with Pete recently. No matter what they come out with, I am sure that Wilson will have a good campaign to move the frame.

Cheers, TennezSport

JoelDali said:

Seriously, if he switches in the next 6 months I will LOL so effen loud.

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honestly, i'd be more surprised if he didn't switch. And i'm not joking either. I mean this is Rampras. What kind of contract do you think Rampras has with babolat. Probably 1/2 price racquets and a free McDonalds combo every second week. I doubt they have him locked into a million dollar contract

TennezSport said:

Ron Rocchi told me that Wilson was going to get Pete back, when I asked him about it, last Oct. Guess he was really serious, especially since Wilson has been trying to get Pete to go to a bigger frame for some time. I am sure that Fed has also toyed with the proto when he was practicing with Pete recently. No matter what they come out with, I am sure that Wilson will have a good campaign to move the frame.

Cheers, TennezSport

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Petros says he plans on competing for at least another few years so i'm sure Wilson is going to rush getting something out quickly to maximize Petros' public uptime.

asifallasleep said:

As posted by Agassi-Fan:
Sampras has been trying some different frames over the last six months and used one of those in New York against Agassi, but as he explains, “Wilson and I are working together on a racket that works for me. The strings with these new frames have given me the ability to hit the ball flat with control and it helps me generate more power and spin on the rest of my shots. The technology has got to a point where it is as far as you can possibly take it. With these powerful rackets, it gives me the ability to swing hard and have control while generating a lot more spin. I can feel it on my second serve and on high backhands. It is easier to generate more power from above my shoulder, and you can just really feel the spin. It is easier on my body and easier on my arm. It really makes tennis more tolerable to play. I remember playing Verdasco last year in San Jose and his ball was jumping and kicking. A lot of it is the way guys are hitting the ball but a lot of it is the technology as well. I have enjoyed experimenting and coming full circle from a guy who didn’t want to try anything to a guy willing to try a lot of different rackets and strings. But at the end of the day I am working with Wilson to find the right one for me.”

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This piece of news can be read in two ways. The cynical, the "half-empty" part would say that out of the entire, wide range of Wilson racquets, there's not a single one he want to play with :evil:

CzechM8 said:

This piece of news can be read in two ways. The cynical, the "half-empty" part would say that out of the entire, wide range of Wilson racquets, there's not a single one he want to play with :evil:

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it's not the point that wilson don't have a suitable racket. since they discontinued kps88, they need a new racquet with sampras' name on it - there are enough nostalgic samprastards who'd want to get their idol's new racquet. few would argue that sampras' name would not sell more racquets than mardy fish's or feliciano lopez's or many other pros not named federer or del potro...

and yet...the KPS 88 was really a failiure, even with Sampras' name on it. Wilson, if they go down this road again, needs to make a (dare I say it) a more everyman's frame.

Wilson must have been reading the boards where the majority swear they play with a 14 ounce stick balanced even and with a small head. Fact is, those players are:

1. In the vast majority
2. Don't buy gear like lower levels
3. When they do buy gear, are super conscience of price

The KPS88 was EXACTLY what the boards said they wanted, and it turned out to be a turd no one could polish.

With regard to Sampras and a million dollar deal, those are extremely rare and based on performance and other tough to hit marks. I've been told by someone very much in the know that when Sampras was on tour and #1, he didn't get $1 from Wilson.

Wilson gave him 1st pick of the St. Vincents (Courier got the left overs) for free and basically acquired enough to ensure his career would finish out. But Sampras was very stubborn to the point that he wouldn't allow Wilson to freshen his cosmetics, forget re-cosmeticizing his ProStaff ala Edberg.

And to bring up Edberg, there was a point in his career when he left Wilson and went to Adidas in an all-encompassing deal like Lendl had. Clothes, shoes, and racquet were all Adidas. Edberg did this during the Masters one year when it was still played as MSG. There was a problem though, Edberg's arm began to hurt. He ditched the Adidas frame and went back to Wilson.

He only had a round black stenil on his frame though. This was to indicate that he used Bow Brand Gut. He ascended to #1 in the world and still...no red W. He was asked about this, how was it that he was #1 in the world and didn't have a racquet contract. Edberg smiled and said "I guess no one wants me." Edberg did get his Wilson deal, but it wasn't for millions.

It wasn't for millions, and think about this. Edberg was 'discovered' and initially signed to Wilson by a then Wilson scout, Tony Pickard. Tony Pickard? Why that is also the name of Edberg's career long coach. It's no coincidence, they are one in the same. You would think if anyone could get Edberg a better deal or a quick deal, it'd have been Pickard.

Net of it is, and just recently Lindsay Davenport said it on Tennis Channel while commentating, players don't make that much money off racquet endorsements. They make far more off tournaments. If the reverse were true, you'd see players changing frames all the time and manufacturers in bidding wars. Manufacturers periodically 'clean house' and release players. A month before announcing thier deal with Prince, the Bryan brothers were lauding their Wilson frames after winning the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas. I'd never seen them do that before or since. Reckon they were trying to show Wilson they'd do sales work?

Everyone will mention Roger Federer's $2M/year deal with Wilson. I don't know the particulars of the deal and if life time means til he dies or his career does. I would imagine there are some pretty stringent performance goals there as well.

The commentators were also criticizing Djokovic for changing racquets like he did. Apparently the old retired pros agree with Davenport. They keep it the same as long as they can.

Truth be told, there's only been one time in the history of the sport when pros changed gear en masse. It was when wood was phased out and they had to plain and simple.

Does anyone really think Wilson would give Sampras anything close to what Federer is making or that he'd sell that much? Sampras was never the marketing machine that Agassi was.

Cool thread bro.Wonder if this new Wilson / Sampras frame will be a box beamed 100 inch racquet. That would help Sir Shanks Alot too (Fed).I can't wait to see what Wilson unveils.Of course it will have PWS.:smile:

JoelDali said:

Understood, my point is, once he hears Pete has a new Wilson stick will he switch and follow his hero.

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Yeah, that would be interesting.

JRstriker12 said:

Publicity - true, but I wonder if it will end up with any sales? What's the appeal of a new Sampras super stick if the only thing it's winning are exhibitions and matches on the "senior" tour?

BTW- No way Federer switches to a Sampras branded racket. His signature is already on the 6.1 - no way he gives up that endorsement money.

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Well Rog gets the endorsement money from Wilson. He doesn't get it for a specific racket, but for representing wilson. he couldn't care less which name is on the frame...

they wouldn't even need to call it sampras frame.

dominikk1985 said:

Well Rog gets the endorsement money from Wilson. He doesn't get it for a specific racket, but for representing wilson. he couldn't care less which name is on the frame...

they wouldn't even need to call it sampras frame.

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Maybe, maybe not - we'd have to see his contract. But you don't 16 Grand Slams and have zero say in what sort of promotions your sponsor can push on you.

I'm betting that Fed has some control over which specific racket carries his signature and/or whether he would endorse a racket carrying another player's name (which I find to be highly unlikely as it reduces his marketability and lends his creditability to another player) - same reason why Pete will have his own stick and not market Fed's stick.

There's endorsement money - player Y uses brand X...
and then there's the added money that any athlete would negotiate to associate their name and signature specifically with a brand (Federer, Jordan, Rafa, Tiger, etc....).

If a company thinks that simply throwing your signature on a racket or putting an RF monogram on a T-shirt will help them make more money then you can be sure that your name has more value than the next guy, and any agent or athlete with half a brain is going to request more money from a company if their particular signature appears endorsing a certain product. He drops that signature and he loses the additional endorsement money.

From a personal stand-point, there's a chance Fed may not care that much, but from a financial and marketing standpoint - you bet he does!

Anyway, it looks like Pete will get his own stick, just like they did before with the KPS88. Producing some new stick and not putting Pete's name on it, as you suggest, totally misses the point of all this hype and fuss over Wilson signing Pete to endorse their product in the first place - the added value of having Pete's name on a racket.

I'm not going to lie, the KPS88 was a failure in my book. Some people liked it, and some people don't. I tried it for a week and holy crap, that thing was like a club!

The balance on that thing was all wrong. I was fine with the swingweight because my racquets are leaded up to similar weight. But at 6pts headlight, the KPS88 felt like a hammer on the groundies.

Will We Finally Get A Box Beam With 95" Headsize?!

Interesting development! Wonder what the new racket will be like! Maybe Samprass will move to a bigger racket - a 90 sq.in. frame size! LOL!

I often wondered why he strung so tight and leaded up so much as he wanted more power and spin (especially for French Open and the last few years of his career). The recent change is definitely interesting and I'm sure analyzed by many.

that's pretty weird that they would develop a new racquet for someone who has retired and would only use this racquet in the exhibition matches.

Mick said:

that's pretty weird that they would develop a new racquet for someone who has retired and would only use this racquet in the exhibition matches.

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Well current pros could use it just as current pros used the Jack Krammer ProStaff. Who knows, maybe Del Potro and Raonic will use it as they idolized Sampras. Rajeev Ram will definitely use it.

leonidas1982 said:

Well current pros could use it just as current pros used the Jack Krammer ProStaff. Who knows, maybe Del Potro and Raonic will use it as they idolized Sampras. Rajeev Ram will definitely use it.

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ah. that would make a lot more sense. thanks. i didn't think of it

JRstriker12 said:

Maybe, maybe not - we'd have to see his contract. But you don't 16 Grand Slams and have zero say in what sort of promotions your sponsor can push on you.

I'm betting that Fed has some control over which specific racket carries his signature and/or whether he would endorse a racket carrying another player's name (which I find to be highly unlikely as it reduces his marketability and lends his creditability to another player) - same reason why Pete will have his own stick and not market Fed's stick.

There's endorsement money - player Y uses brand X...
and then there's the added money that any athlete would negotiate to associate their name and signature specifically with a brand (Federer, Jordan, Rafa, Tiger, etc....).

If a company thinks that simply throwing your signature on a racket or putting an RF monogram on a T-shirt will help them make more money then you can be sure that your name has more value than the next guy, and any agent or athlete with half a brain is going to request more money from a company if their particular signature appears endorsing a certain product. He drops that signature and he loses the additional endorsement money.

From a personal stand-point, there's a chance Fed may not care that much, but from a financial and marketing standpoint - you bet he does!

Anyway, it looks like Pete will get his own stick, just like they did before with the KPS88. Producing some new stick and not putting Pete's name on it, as you suggest, totally misses the point of all this hype and fuss over Wilson signing Pete to endorse their product in the first place - the added value of having Pete's name on a racket.

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right but it's wilson paying him.

and if they say we pay you more for playing a pete sampras racket then we pay you now for your signed Roger federer racket he likely won't say no.even if roger has a contract wilson could always offer him an upgrade.

the bigger question is whether roger actually wants to play a 95-100 frame.

it's not that babolat is the only company that makes stiff 100 inch frames.
wilson already has those frames (wilson blade 98 for example). so I'm sure roger has already tested those frames. maybe he just doesn't like to play those frames.

Mick said:

ah. that would make a lot more sense. thanks. i didn't think of it

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No problem. As exciting as Sampras' debut of the KPS88 was, the frame coming is probably generating more interest.

Remember a few months back when Maria was using a Head Radical blacked out and Prince said they were having her experiment and they were going to make her a new frame to make her happy? Guess what happened? Sounds like the same story but I guess you guys didn't notice....

JoelDali said:

Ram switched to Babs around the same time Pete was demoing if I'm not mistaken.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDn8_qceyyI
your right!

dominikk1985 said:

right but it's wilson paying him.

and if they say we pay you more for playing a pete sampras racket then we pay you now for your signed Roger federer racket he likely won't say no.even if roger has a contract wilson could always offer him an upgrade.

the bigger question is whether roger actually wants to play a 95-100 frame.

it's not that babolat is the only company that makes stiff 100 inch frames.
wilson already has those frames (wilson blade 98 for example). so I'm sure roger has already tested those frames. maybe he just doesn't like to play those frames.

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Yes, because Wilson would pay him more than he makes now (Which I think is probably Wilson's largest player sponsorship) to endorse a racket signed by a retired player..... unlikely.

BTW- What indication do you have that Fed is even thinking about changing? The only person talking about a change is Pete. Pete didn't even say anything about Fed or Fed's rackets. Kind of a big jump in logic to assume that Pete's switch has anything to do with Fed. Also, considering the success Fed has had with his current frame, I doubt he'll change any time soon.

I still think there is a pretty good market of smaller frame size rackets - 85-93 sq. in frames. A lot of advance player still like the small frames. It only the beginning and immediate players that need the larger frames. Racquet manufacturers want to get these players and hold them through Tour Pros. But the more advanced players; they don't care much who is using what racquet that much as long as the racquet is want he or she likes.

bcart1991 said:

Or, he likes the Pure Storm so much, he told Wilson to make one for him...

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I hate Bab as much as the next person.

But this is very true.

sixone90 said:

Will We Finally Get A Box Beam With 95" Headsize?!

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are there any racquets like this on the market now?

Cooper_Tecnifibre4 said:

I hate Bab as much as the next person.

But this is very true.

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The Pure Storm Tour is very unBab. It has great feel and control. One of the best sticks I have ever used. You can actually hit quality drop shots and vollies with it. If it was a 93-95 sizish head with a little less power, I would tuck it in between me and my GF on a nightly basis.

Pete probably strings it at some insano high tension to tame some of it's power as well. He most likely slathers it with lead so his stringers strain their backs trying to lift it onto their machines.

There is also no cortex in this stick...thankfully. I am not sure how wilson plans to recreate the Woofer grommets, but if they build a better version of the PSTGT, I will have to try it out.

I'm excited Sampras is getting a new stick so that the KPS88 goes down even more in price LOL! Right now they are $150, but I bet once he gets a new frame they should drop another 50 bucks and I can stock up. I guess it was a pretty rare frame for people to like from the sounds of some of the other posts... I enjoy it though, It's quite fun to play around with.

PowerPlayer, if Wilson makes a jacked up version of a PSTGT I will definitely have to try it out as well! I could see that being awesome.

-Fuji

i say its going to be a box beam 95 sq inch wilson something from the old pro staff moulds... :twisted:

How crazy would it be if Sampras shocked us all and used a 100 sq inch, 25 mm tweener frame?

Petros has turned into a typical racquetaholic. He's going to go through about 5-6 new frames looking for that magic stick that will turn back the clock 15 years. He'll realize that doesn't exist and end up going back to the KPS88 or PS85 in a year or two. Mark my words