How does it work if a player wants to switch back?

[hpaiste]

I know it's too early to say for sure, but Wozniacki has had some not so promising results with her new Yonex.

What happens if she has a change of heart. If she wants her APD back? Will Yonex just get some for her and paint them black? Even though the racquet shapes are totally different? Or can she go back to Babolat?

I know, I know- it's way to early to say for sure, but "what if?"

 

[VGP]

I'm sure it depends on the details of any contractual obligations to which she's committed...

....but in her case I think it was a bad idea. You don't get to #1 in the world and then switch gear. Even for more money. If your ranking plummets or you've just about reached your goal to win a major title and then switch, it's too much of a chance to take.

 

[lacoster]

Contracts

I'm sure it all depends on her contract. If there is an "opt-out" clause, then she certainly can switch back to Babolat, or another brand who is willing to pay her the money she commands.

Verdasco had an "opt-out" with Yonex. And even though he played well with the RDis200 (won his 4th career title the first week he used it), he decided to sign with Dunlop based on a more lucrative deal.

 

[tennisjon]

I think its a little early to make assumptions that it was a bad switch. I would say, in general, Yonex racquets would suit her game. There is probably additional customization that will be done as you get used to the frame. Changing the weight, balance, even flex. Also, there is a confidence aspect of trusting your frame, which is something you may lack when you first switch. She has lost to other really good players. Give her some matches against players she should handle and then add a month more worth of matches before passing judgement as to whether this was a good or bad switch. Also, I would think most players have an out clause. If after a few months it doesn't work out for their game they can disolve the contract.

 

[Bobby Jr]

I doubt any players would be naive enough to sign a contract which forces them to use equipment they haven't completely verified as suitable for them. Whether that means getting custom variants of flex, weight etc the racquet company would probably cater to it - often mimicking some attributes of the frame they came over from. For the top men at least, racquet companies would bend over backwards to do this.

Players like Wozniacki actually aren't all that marketable in the bigger scheme of things so I doubt they'd get the level of service that players like Fed, Nadal, Murray, Serena would get.

I've often wondered how the discussions go. Does the company say, for example, to Fed: lets make a 95sq/in head and then they make like 20 variants on shape, weight, flex etc for him to try in some secret test session? I can imagine many of those racquets either being quite useful in the company's overall design process or getting hurled over the nearest fence.

 

[VGP]

I think its a little early to make assumptions that it was a bad switch.

I didn't mean to imply that the decision is solely a bad one....

She's been on a steady progression in the positive direction. Don't fix what ain't broke.

I doubt any players would be naive enough to sign a contract which forces them to use equipment they haven't completely verified as suitable for them.

I'm sure these days there is a lot of access to the design and modification in equipment development.

I'm sure she's been trying things behind the scenes for months and the recent switch in the off season is the culmination of that. She gets appropriate time to test it out in exos and in the tournaments leading up with the AO. But it can backfire. Look at Ljubicic.

 

[Herdsman76]

I think it's just too early to tell based on recent results. But I remember in the old days (late 80's) when Martina Navratilova was under contract with Yonex, she was hitting with different frames because her latest Yonex model didn't suit her. That was during the widebody crazy and the Yonex wasn't doing it for her. She used a Wilson Profile 2.7 with and without a Yonex stencil. I think she also used a Dunlop 200G with the Yonex stencil as well.

At any rate, if Wozniacki has an opt out clause I'm sure she'll use it if necessary. It wouldn't surprise me if she goes back to a Babolat racquet without any stencils until she is signed by them or another company....

 

[eliza]

I know it's too early to say for sure, but Wozniacki has had some not so promising results with her new Yonex.

What happens if she has a change of heart. If she wants her APD back? Will Yonex just get some for her and paint them black? Even though the racquet shapes are totally different? Or can she go back to Babolat?

I know, I know- it's way to early to say for sure, but "what if?"

1) she paints her old Babolat;
2) she breaches contract and hires best attorney...

 

[birmingham]

Wozniacki

I think Yonex sponsored her because she plays like Hingis...soft hitter but consistent

 

[zapvor]

I doubt any players would be naive enough to sign a contract which f
I've often wondered how the discussions go. Does the company say, for example, to Fed: lets make a 95sq/in head and then they make like 20 variants on shape, weight, flex etc for him to try in some secret test session? I can imagine many of those racquets either being quite useful in the company's overall design process or getting hurled over the nearest fence.

yea the pros get to put input on what they want and whether he likes it until he finds a prototype that he likes

 

[zapvor]

back to the OP though-i think its great she switched to yonex-its a great brand!

 

[ispaht]

I think Yonex sponsored her because she plays like Hingis...soft hitter but consistent

Oh no you did not.

She played well enough with the Yonex in her match against Clijsters in Thailand, and in her first two matches in Hong Kong. Zvonareva, who also flew to Sydney from Hong Kong lost in the first round. It must've been the extreme change in playing conditions.

I think it's too early to say, especially because Wozniacki starts the year pretty slow. Besides, she will always be irrelevant until after Wimbledon.

 

[You Can't Be Serious]

Yonex will do whatever it takes to keep her happy.

They don't want her losing, either.

If they have to come up with another frame (as they did with Ivanovic) they will. As Ivanovic said, Yonex approached her 70 or so frames to test.
They showed her a prototype of the Ezone at Wimbledon. She liked some aspects of the frame but it didn't completely meet her specifications.

They came back a few months later with the new Ezone and she loved it. They must have worked pretty fast to get the job done.

Remember other racket companies may not go to the length that Yonex will to make her happy. Nadal, Roddick and Kim C. are the mainstays of Babolat.

Woz would have to win a few grand slams before they would pour that kind of money into Woz.



Novak struggled with his Head rackets when he made the switch.

She's a professional and will eventually get comfortable with her frame. And it may not just be her racket.



They will develop a frame with her specifications like they did with Ivanovic if need be. Novak had big problems when he switched to Head,

It worked out in the end.

 

[GregN]

I am not to sure whether you saw her play in Sydney, she looked very tentative and not at ease at all, I wouldn't mind betting she is back with Babolat sooner rather than latter. I cant see getting past 1 or 2 rounds in the AO unless something dramatic happens on the racquet front, her shots lacked pace and spin with the yonex.

 

[xanctus]

I'm sure it depends on the details of any contractual obligations to which she's committed...

....but in her case I think it was a bad idea. You don't get to #1 in the world and then switch gear. Even for more money. If your ranking plummets or you've just about reached your goal to win a major title and then switch, it's too much of a chance to take.

Agreed with your statement.
I was rather shocked reading about her switching to yonex, when she was at her best with Babolat.

 

[jwbarrientos]

Lawyers are magician, it's all about them.

 

[li0scc0]

Players like Wozniacki actually aren't all that marketable in the bigger scheme of things so I doubt they'd get the level of service that players like Fed, Nadal, Murray, Serena would get.

Of course, roughly 50% of tennis players are women. Most of those women have no clue who Andy Murray is (they know Federer and Nadal on the men's side), but all know Wozniacki. Those women would be far more influenced by Woz than Murray or Djokovic.
Plus, none of these women care what racquet Federer and Nadal are using. I have never seen a 3.5 woman using the BLX Six.One Tour 90. They want what the best/better women are using. Wozniacki is one of the best/better women players, and has an appeal.

The problem I see with this forum is that we take a very myopic view, thinking the TW forums are the be-all end-all of tennis. Nerds like me know what gear Llodra uses...99% of tennis players don't know who Llodra is. We also tend to ignore the buying power of women. Women know who Wozniacki is. And they still know Sharapova, which is why she is still very marketable.

 

[ryushen21]

I think it could be a combination of things. The racquet switch plus the string switch. She's gone from a poly/gut hybrid to a full poly. That was what was really more shocking for me than anything else was that she changed both. I think that if she had the familiarity of her usual string setup with her new frame that she would be at least a little better off.

 

[mdjenders]

she played great vs. clijsters in that exho match

 

[tennisjon]

So, now that Wozniacki made the semis and had a match point for the finals. Any opinions on whether this racquet change affected her? I really didn't see much difference. Better serve and forehand, weaker off the backhand, maybe? Either way, she has the physical size to be able to hit bigger, but maybe its her game which is too passive at times. Sometimes you have to realize that your opponent is not missing and is more aggressive than you are, so you can't just wait for that person to miss.

 

[Up&comer]

Just ask verdasco....

 

[whomad15]

Wozniacki needs a weapon, she can't beat her opponents is her current problem, she relies on them beating themselves. Don't think theres much you can do with just the racquet.