Adrian Mannarino brings two racquets to court in his small Nike bag

[zalive]

I don't think we have to feel sorry for him. He's 29 years old and nr 28 in the world. There must be a reason why babolat doesn't sponsor him and it's not his ranking.

Do you happen to know it? If yes, care to share it?
Actually it sounds funny, french player having problems with french tennis company?
Anyway it seems possible (even probable) Babolat just doesn't have this particular APD in stock and won't produce it for Mannarino only.

What grip size does Rafa use,1/4 right? Too bad Rafa could of gave him a few APD non cortex!

Well even in my part of the world there is a cheap service to remould the handle to your preferred grip size...

 

[MarTennis]

That isn't the problem. The problem is he only wants that one very specific model of the apd: https://twitter.com/AdrianMannarino/status/916306002764455937

My best guess is that he is very sensitive to changes in racquet, much the same as Delpo is.

It would be a nightmare trying to find a new racquet to use mid season. Going off his recent quotes he will likely try and find something new between now and 2018 season.

No. That is the problem. What he thinks he can only do with certain equipment. Hella 1st world problem.

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[Big_Dangerous]

But he's the Mannarino, he should be able to get whatever he wants!

 

[ron schaap]

Mannarino proves that my proposal that every pro should only be allowed no more than 3 rackets on court is possible.
Maybe his low tensions helps him to extend the life of his strings which is a good thing.

 

[Doubles]

Mannarino proves that my proposal that every pro should only be allowed no more than 3 rackets on court is possible.
Maybe his low tensions helps him to extend the life of his strings which is a good thing.

They certainly do not extend the life when you're already playing with low tensions. It'd be easier for the ball to really start to fly on him, and constantly restringing racquets, which I'd reckon you'd have to do more when you string especially low, is harder on frames.

 

[Deleted member 746200]

What grip size does Rafa use,1/4 right? Too bad Rafa could of gave him a few APD non cortex!

yes rafa uses size 2 and manarino uses a size 3. actually its not that hard to build up a grip size lol

 

[PBODY99]

@ron schaap

Mannarino proves that my proposal that every pro should only be allowed no more than 3 rackets on court is possible.
Maybe his low tensions helps him to extend the life of his strings which is a good thing.

How does a limit improve the experience of viewing pro tennis?

 

[moon shot]

@ron schaap

How does a limit improve the experience of viewing pro tennis?

It seems like it would be the equivalent of limiting fuel or tires in a automotive racing. Conservation would be rewarded.

Quality of play would be dampened, but equipment used might be more realistic, not that I support the premise.

 

[Moonballballer]

Do you happen to know it? If yes, care to share it?
Actually it sounds funny, french player having problems with french tennis company?
Anyway it seems possible (even probable) Babolat just doesn't have this particular APD in stock and won't produce it for Mannarino only.

I don't know him, but it can't be a coincidence that he's (one of) the only top 50 players without sponsorships

 

[Bobble]

This guy has been posting great results (about as good as his game affords), and even got his first DC nomination. Just find it odd Babolat won’t even hand him some painted aeropro drives.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

@Babolat Official

 

[Babolat Official]

This guy has been posting great results (about as good as his game affords), and even got his first DC nomination. Just find it odd Babolat won’t even hand him some painted aeropro drives.

We've tried to get Adrian to make the switch but he can't play with the new model, the paint job being a primary factor.

 

[Liam Grennon]

We've tried to get Adrian to make the switch but he can't play with the new model, the paint job being a primary factor.

So why not give him more of the normal frame? At least he would be using a bag from you guys, and or you could not sponsor him just have him buy from you...

 

[niktub]

This situation is counterproductive.

 

[Harry_Wild]

With his teams connections, he could ask people to donate the non cortex frame to him or offer to buy them. To bad Babalot does not step up and just give him a dozen frames from their old stock inventory.

 

[Babolat Official]

With his teams connections, he could ask people to donate the non cortex frame to him or offer to buy them. To bad Babalot does not step up and just give him a dozen frames from their old stock inventory.

If we had more of those frames, we'd certainly be willing to help. Unfortunately since that model is from 2013, we no longer have inventory.

 

[Doubles]

If we had more of those frames, we'd certainly be willing to help. Unfortunately since that model is from 2013, we no longer have inventory.

Are you suggesting that all your pros have actually switched to the Pure Aero line? Or that you just won't provide more PJ's for them of older models?

 

[Babolat Official]

Are you suggesting that all your pros have actually switched to the Pure Aero line? Or that you just won't provide more PJ's for them of older models?

Not suggesting anything, just informing you of what our warehouse inventory levels show for the AeroPro Drive.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Not suggesting anything, just informing you of what our warehouse inventory levels show for the AeroPro Drive.

Do the pros actually use the AeroPro Drive retail racquets that come out of the warehouse anyway?

 

[FedLIKEnot]

Do the pros actually use the AeroPro Drive retail racquets that come out of the warehouse anyway?

I am sure we all know that is a no. By this logic there are no paint jobs and every pro is using the same model you or I can buy of the rack and we are aware that isn’t a thing.

 

[shoesandko]

The store I string at had L4 x 4 new stock, I had contacted him on twitter and one of his managers called the store and ask we hold the 4 for a few weeks while he tried the new frame, They did not follow up so they must have found some new stock elsewhere, During last years odlum brown tournament , I had strung Sam Groth's frames and he said the same thing about liking the older model like Mannarino, Babolat painted some of those older ones with the new Pure Aero paint job and he still did not like them. He mentioned Nate from P1 had some of Tsonga's frames he could try but didn't( even older model Aero)

 

[Simon_the_furry]

We've tried to get Adrian to make the switch but he can't play with the new model, the paint job being a primary factor.

So the issue is that he just doesn't like the flashy Pure Aero paint?

 

[JW10S]

There must be more to this, while Mannarino wears Nike clothes and shoes I do not believe he has a contract with them either. He's been wearing shirts that were released more than a year ago. There has to be reasons why companies are not interested in this guy in spite of his results.

 

[vsbabolat]

If we had more of those frames, we'd certainly be willing to help. Unfortunately since that model is from 2013, we no longer have inventory.

But you have AeroPro Drive’s with Pure Aero paint job like what Caroline Wozniaki is really using.

 

[alexwawrinka]

There must be more to this, while Mannarino wears Nike clothes and shoes I do not believe he has a contract with them either. He's been wearing shirts that were released more than a year ago. There has to be reasons why companies are not interested in this guy in spite of his results.

Mannarino does not have a full contract with nike , just a light deal to allow him buy nike products at factory price .

 

[Ace of Aces]

But you have AeroPro Drive’s with Pure Aero paint job like what Caroline Wozniaki is really using.

I think he’s the only pro using the 2013 one. The older models are pretty common on tour so they supply multiple pros when they keep making them. It wouldn’t make sense to keep production going for one man.

 

[Deleted member 746200]

I think he’s the only pro using the 2013 one. The older models are pretty common on tour so they supply multiple pros when they keep making them. It wouldn’t make sense to keep production going for one man.

I guess only because his name is not that big for Babolat. Thiem is the only one still use 2014 Original pure strike I believe. For me I guess Babolat could still make 2013 APD and put new PA PJ on it. They just don’t want to. And tbh sponsor adrian mannarino won’t make too much money for Babolat...


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[vsbabolat]

I guess only because his name is not that big for Babolat. Thiem is the only one still use 2014 Original pure strike I believe. For me I guess Babolat could still make 2013 APD and put new PA PJ on it. They just don’t want to. And tbh sponsor adrian mannarino won’t make too much money for Babolat...


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Babolat does still manufacture the 2013 AeroPro Drive and put Aero DrIve paint job on it for a lot of players like Caroline Wozniack as an example.

 

[Deleted member 746200]

Babolat does still manufacture the 2013 AeroPro Drive and put Aero DrIve paint job on it for a lot of players like Caroline Wozniack as an example.

Yeah I was reading the comments before and Babolat official said he can’t play with even the new PA PJ...interesting.


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[vsbabolat]

Yeah I was reading the comments before and Babolat official said he can’t play with even the new PA PJ...interesting.


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It is weird that he won’t use the new paint job. Maybe he has morals?

 

[Deleted member 746200]

It is weird that he won’t use the new paint job. Maybe he has morals?

That’s the only possible explanation I guess. And I think what Babolat says is they can still provide frame but they don’t have 2013 APD PJ in factory anymore which makes more sense to me.


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[dgoran]

I wonder if he does not like the feel of the paint. I learned that I don’t like matte as much as glossy paint so maybe something like about the feel in hand bothers him. I think new one is more matte correct?

 

[Lukhas]

That’s the only possible explanation I guess. And I think what Babolat says is they can still provide frame but they don’t have 2013 APD PJ in factory anymore which makes more sense to me.

I wonder if he does not like the feel of the paint. I learned that I don’t like matte as much as glossy paint so maybe something like about the feel in hand bothers him. I think new one is more matte correct?

Perhaps he thinks it affects performance or feel in some way. Remember Del Potro: he was provided with the exact same racquets he used to use but under a new paintjob; said racquets which weren't even K-Factors to begin with. He still refused to use them and didn't use anything else than his old sticks until he was driven in a corner by his lack of racquets. Benoît Paire also used the APD GT paintjob for as long as he could before switching to the Pure Aero one despite having the stencil. The switching was helped by his, ahem, high level of love and care for his equipment. FWIW, this was at Wimbledon 2013.

 

[Doubles]

I think he’s the only pro using the 2013 one. The older models are pretty common on tour so they supply multiple pros when they keep making them. It wouldn’t make sense to keep production going for one man.

Marcelo Melo uses it as well. He still has a stencil on his racquets, too. I'd bet there's more than just those two guys.

 

[McEncock]

I think he doesn't like the constraints of a sponsorship, because he likes to be free to chose his frame and his paintjob.

 

[DJTaurus]

 

[teekaywhy]

changes[/QUOTkE]
I'm k me l

 

[teekaywhy]

1. Ljollljk nk mmknk mk

 

[Jimbud]

He is apparently played in New York with three rackets. He said he is waiting on an endorsement deal that is coming through, but for now is just using the three he has. Pretty amazing.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Any professional tennis player that refuses to play with a racquet because of a PJ is not being professional at all.

 

[DJ-]

He's been lucky with his throws, usually a soft surface or ball kid to absorb the impact

 

[Simon_the_furry]

I wonder if he does not like the feel of the paint. I learned that I don’t like matte as much as glossy paint so maybe something like about the feel in hand bothers him. I think new one is more matte correct?

That is a possibility. It could be a tactile thing.
But Babolat could still make a glossy version for him, couldn't they?

 

[letstakeourshirtsoff]

lol mannerisms.

 

[Shaolin]

lol mannerisms.

You mean Mannarinoisms

 

[Harry_Wild]

This has caused a lot of focus on Babolat branding and the short supply of Babolat players racquets; and they say any publicity is good since it is in the public eye! LOL! I sure Babolat is thinking of do a run of the non Cortex AeroPro Drives that many of the top tour pro are using now; not only Rafa but Tsonga too among others!

 

[langdon0555]

This has caused a lot of focus on Babolat branding and the short supply of Babolat players racquets; and they say any publicity is good since it is in the public eye! LOL! I sure Babolat is thinking of do a run of the non Cortex AeroPro Drives that many of the top tour pro are using now; not only Rafa but Tsonga too among others!

Tsonga doesn’t use a non-cortex aero pro.

He uses one of the older cortex models. You can see the old cortex even with the current pure aero paint job. It’s a 2007 or 2010 model.

 

[Nolkobolko]

His insta story suggests otherwise. It shows 5 AeroPro Drives with 2 pairs of pink/black Nike Vapor X's.

 

[Harry_Wild]

His insta story suggests otherwise. It shows 5 AeroPro Drives with 2 pairs of pink/black Nike Vapor X's.

Mannarino is finally back to normal with minimum of 5 racquets!

 

[zalive]

Mannarino is finally back to normal with minimum of 5 racquets!

Finally he can throw one or two at ball boys...?

 

[Tennease]

Perhaps he thinks it affects performance or feel in some way. Remember Del Potro: he was provided with the exact same racquets he used to use but under a new paintjob; said racquets which weren't even K-Factors to begin with. He still refused to use them and didn't use anything else than his old sticks until he was driven in a corner by his lack of racquets. Benoît Paire also used the APD GT paintjob for as long as he could before switching to the Pure Aero one despite having the stencil. The switching was helped by his, ahem, high level of love and care for his equipment. FWIW, this was at Wimbledon 2013.