Sampras goes to Babolat! (pics incl.)

[The Pure One]

Today I went to the see Agassi Farewell Tour. AA played Pete Sampras and lost 3-6, 6-3, 4-6. Very nice game. Pete service was incredible as always.

To my surprise, Sampras was not playing with his Wilson K Factor KPro Staff 88. He was playing with the Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT or the Babolat Pure Storm Ltd. GT. I really cannot see which one since I was not seated near. When the game ended Sampras made a clear statement about his new racquet: more power! The strings were kind of black. Do not know if he stayed with Lux/VS Gut combo or went full poly with the new RPM Blast. Here are some pics. In a few days I’m going to get some more. Enjoy!

[Doubles]

This is new. Then again, he never had a lifetime contract with Wilson...

[OliverSimon]

Wow weird switch. I guess he liked Roddick's pure drive. Is he using the pure storm?

[norbac]

Yeah, I just came back from the match too. It was good fun. Pete's game in general was great and I was especially impressed with his net game, still very good.

Was just about to start a thread on the racket switch, guess I got beat...

[leonidas1982]

[Babolast]

Well this is a surprise.

[cy1126dragonamul]

it kind of looks like his prostaff 88 painted like pure storm....
but I don't see any pws and the frame looks thicker than his previous prostaff....
so my guess is that pete's finally changed his racket....

[hondas2k]

its PST GT. im a bit surprised. i thought he went to Pure Drive.

[TennisandMusic]

Wow, this appears to be an actual switch. I actually think this is awesome. So many of the Wilson diehards swear by the fact that Babolats are cheap crap, then you have one of the best players of all time (who was basically the face of the PS85 by and large) going from a custom-designed-for-him Wilson, to what appears to be a stock (but surely modified) Babolat.

As I always like to say, results matter! Babolats are great racquets.

[hondas2k]

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/photo...sampras_tennis

[grimmbomb21]

Lines starting for the Babolat bandwagon. Check your kps88 at the door please.

jk

[PeterFig]

Anyone able to tell if it's the Ltd version?

[kimbahpnam]

man..i wonder how much lead tape is loaded up on the racquet! his serve just got a bit faster too

[Fee]

I asked Justin to confirm this (he's sponsored by Babolat and he hits with Pete a lot) and he said 'Yep!'. No details on the model or anything like that.

I wonder if this whole conversation started when Andy, Pete and Justin were all in Atlantic City for that exo in April.

[PeterFig]

I think from the photo of Sampras and Andre at the net I am able to count a 16x20 string pattern - which assuming he's using a standard mold that would make it the larger 98sq in version of the Pure Strom Tour - not the Ltd (which is a 18x20)

[TennisandMusic]

Originally Posted by PeterFig

I think from the photo of Sampras and Andre at the net I am able to count a 16x20 string pattern - which assuming he's using a standard mold that would make it the larger 98sq in version of the Pure Strom Tour - not the Ltd (which is a 18x20)

Yeah, I think you're right. Looks like a PSTGT. Also, the paint looks kinda shiny, not matte, which would also indicate this racquet.

[WhiteStripes]

It's definitely the Tour, not the Limited -- at least in terms of paintjob. You can tell by the color at the bottom hoop of the head. On the regular Storm and the LTD models, the color is black. On the Tour/Tour +, the color is grey.

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

[baseline_monster]

THIS IS AWESOME!!!! This would be massive for Babolat. I use the storm tour gts, great sticks, bet his will be rock solid

[forthegame]

There was a similar thread not too long ago when he used Roddick's racquet during an EXHO.

However, this is a surprise, playing a whole match with a Babolat. How did Wilson let that happen?

Kids may flock to Babolat as this is sort of an endorsement! "Uh-oh" by Wilson, IMHO!