Andy Murray ditches Head and turns to Yonex tennis rackets – despite impending retirement

[Zardoz7/12]

A long-time HEAD client, the three-time major winner has been spotted hitting in Bordeaux with a Yonex frame and carrying the manufacturer’s bag. Murray's team confirmed with members of British press that the current No. 77 intends to implement the trial change in match play at the ATP Challenger event.

Murray is set to compete for the first time since rupturing ligaments in his left ankle during a second-round to Tomas Machac at March’s Miami Open. At the time, he hadn’t set a timetable for a return, but a promising recovery encouraged the Dunblane native to accept wild cards into Bordeaux and next week’s Geneva Open ahead of what is expected to be his Roland Garros swan song.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1789994775824724306

https://twitter.com/x/status/1789973705910526419

 

[nolefam_2024]

Did Murray ever played without head rackets?

 

[Deleted member 806402]

The Fonseca Effect

 

[Jonesy]

Murray has finally found excalibur. Exciting times ahead. The wait was worth it. I can see his power and spin greatly increasing from now on.

 

[Mustard]

This is a bit like Agassi leaving Nike for Adidas in mid 2005, after something like 17-18 years with Nike.

 

[MeatTornado]

If his Head contract ran out and they didn't want to renew a retiring player, it's crazy that he wouldn't just play with the same sticks the rest of the year, just blacked out.

If this isn't a new sponsorship with Yonex and he's just trying something new to help his game, he's out of his mind.

 

[jackson vile]

I wonder if Head dropped him because of his play and injuries?

 

[Alcawrath]

The episode of Andy Roddick's podcast where he interviewed Brad Gilbert sheds some light on Andy Murray's racquet obsession and racquet switch. He sounds like he'd be right at home on TTW (just way better at tennis than all of us)

 

[jrzinho]

Some better pictures showing the lead placement in the hoop, taken from the Bordeaux Challenger's "Day 1" video here ==>

 

[MeatTornado]

The episode of Andy Roddick's podcast where he interviewed Brad Gilbert sheds some light on Andy Murray's racquet obsession and racquet switch. He sounds like he'd be right at home on TTW (just way better at tennis than all of us)

And that's why I think he's out of his mind.

He can spend all the time he wants looking for an edge by making his racket 1% better, it's still irrelevant to results as long as he refuses to make any changes to his actual on-court tactics. How can he be so obsessive over little details and still not realize he's an old man with a bum hip that can't win pusher battles with 25 year olds?

 

[kevin qmto]

This is a bit like Agassi leaving Nike for Adidas in mid 2005, after something like 17-18 years with Nike.

Andre at least made a few finals in those years. Something Andy likely won’t. This is more akin to Joe Namath playing one more year for the Rams before retiring.

 

[Chopin]

Murray can play with whatever racquet he wants. And for those of you pointing to how he should adjust his game: totally unrealistic. You can't just totally reinvent yourself when you're at the end of your career and don't have the strokes and movement to do it. Playing attacking tennis involves being explosive with crisp footwork. He's not just going to start moving and serving like Federer. Let the man play tennis.

 

[Red Rick]

If his Head contract ran out and they didn't want to renew a retiring player, it's crazy that he wouldn't just play with the same sticks the rest of the year, just blacked out.

If this isn't a new sponsorship with Yonex and he's just trying something new to help his game, he's out of his mind.

Roddick said Murray has been testing rackets like a maniac

 

[MichaelNadal]

And that's why I think he's out of his mind.

He can spend all the time he wants looking for an edge by making his racket 1% better, it's still irrelevant to results as long as he refuses to make any changes to his actual on-court tactics. How can he be so obsessive over little details and still not realize he's an old man with a bum hip that can't win pusher battles with 25 year olds?

Andy really does push a lot, kinda always has

 

[tennito]

And that's why I think he's out of his mind.

He can spend all the time he wants looking for an edge by making his racket 1% better, it's still irrelevant to results as long as he refuses to make any changes to his actual on-court tactics. How can he be so obsessive over little details and still not realize he's an old man with a bum hip that can't win pusher battles with 25 year olds?

Even during his prime, his best performances - by an absolute mile - came when he was more assertive on court. I'm surprised he didn't go all in on building on that.

 

[Unforgiven79]

Quite surprised, also since theoretically there are few racquets which are stuff of legend like PT57A - I would have blackened it out for the last months.
Thinking twice about it, even if he retires Murray will likely be still playing a lot of exibitions (especially in the UK, where there is no new champion at the horizon) and senior tour matches. It makes sense to find a proper partner also for this sort of retirement phase.
John McEnroe, at some point, even dropped his iconic Dunlop association and adopted... a Head Radical stick!! Would you think about anything odder?