Fernando Gonzalez's Racquet and Ancic's

[Hewittfan22]

When I was ballboying at Legg Mason for Gonzalez and Ancic's match in 2003, Fernando threw down his racquet and he broke it , so after the match I went up to him and asked him for the broken racquet and he gave to me. The racquet was strung with Luxilon alu power and grip size was 4 3/8 and had 3 layers of lead tape( about 6 inches long) at 3 and 9, but each layer it was shorter, first one was the longest then the second one was bit shorter and the third one was also bit shorter than the second layer of lead tape, I also noticed number 24 written on the lead tape. Racquet was the exact same regular babolat pure control plus that you can get in the market , it wasnt any special customized racquet, when i took off those lead tape, it was actually really light(just like the regular PC we can get in the market). He was using a tourna grip and when i took off the tourna grip to see if there was any lead or anything added, but nothing was there and he didnt have the babolat replacement grip instead he was using a Wilson Perforated Cushion-Aire one, nothing really special except the lead tape .

For the ancic's racquet there was little event thing with Ancic, we had a chance play mini games with Ancic hosted by Bryan Brother's dad Wayne Bryan. I didnt have a racquet to play with but luckily Ancic handed me his racquet to play with, it was pretty heavy it fely like it was about 13.5 ounces he had lead tape just like Gonzalez had on his (about 3 layers ) and he was using a Regular Yonex Ti-80, he was using a wilson white grip but unlike other pros, he didnt change his over grip so it was really brown and dirty.

sorry i would like to post the picture of Fernando Gonzalez's racquet which i still have but unfortunetly i do not have a scanner . Also im kinda regret that i took off all the lead tape that he had on his racquet because i put those lead tape and tried on my racquet which it was yonex ti-80 it was just too heavy for me and i threw away those lead tape, i believe it was some special lead tape, it wasnt one of those Unique ones, So i really regret that

 

[Gonzalez_Forehand]

Not surprised he loads up his racquet with lead tapes, he cracks that forehand harder than most.

Cool that you ballboyed for him - was he cool? Seems like a funny guy. Absolute madman, but a funny guy

 

[Hewittfan22]

well he was very angry at that time even though he won the match but he should have won easily , he missed so many opportunies,

 

[ibemadskillzz]

It's not a special lead tape it's justBabolat lead tape. There's 3 6-inch tapes. gonzo gave the racquet it to you? how did you ask him? did u say "I want your racquet" ?

 

[Hewittfan22]

no its not a babolat lead tape, i would know if it was a babolat lead tape cause i use them, it was other kind, not gamm, not unique. After the match i went up to him and asked him Fernando , can I have your racquet please and he gave it to me. what do you think i went up to him and said GIVE ME YOUR RACQUET or something???

 

[ibemadskillzz]

My younger brother is going to visit his cousins house in fairfax area, he might be going to the finals of legg mason with his cousins. Are there any good racquet clubs around there, does anyone know? Also he is looking for a kid to play with. He plays high school tennis.

 

[serge]

It is strange, cause this stick is too stiff for a pro... Too bad for the arm. It must be more flexible...

 

[Hewittfan22]

I agree with Serge, babolat pure drives are too stiff I dont know how the pros use it so well, they must have perfect balanced of lead tape added on the frame, Pure control is okay thought, its a good racquet, but not pure drive