Nadal with Dunlop bag.
- Thread starter Alan_Hill
- Start date
hcb0804
Hall of Fame
How comes ?
That's someone elses bag that just happened to be sitting there. Geez, give me a break....................
Lefty78
Professional
He's in kahoots with Berdych...
Seriously though, that's just a picture with Rafa and a bag in the background. Was he for sure carrying his gear in that? If so, I suspect one of two scenarios, the first being more likely in my opinion.
1. Rafa wants more money from Babolat and this is a means of leverage. His contract may not stipulate which bag he carries his racquets in, so this could encourage them to pay out.
2. Rafa wants out of his contract with Babolat. He has definitely changed his game the past few years, in that he is clearly working on hitting through the ball more. This has definitely been a factor in his improved success on hard and grass courts. A lower powered constant beam racquet would obviously be the next step (especially if he wants to beat Djokovic on HC) so who knows...
Whatever the case may be, it's rather shocking to me. Time will tell...
Seriously though, that's just a picture with Rafa and a bag in the background. Was he for sure carrying his gear in that? If so, I suspect one of two scenarios, the first being more likely in my opinion.
1. Rafa wants more money from Babolat and this is a means of leverage. His contract may not stipulate which bag he carries his racquets in, so this could encourage them to pay out.
2. Rafa wants out of his contract with Babolat. He has definitely changed his game the past few years, in that he is clearly working on hitting through the ball more. This has definitely been a factor in his improved success on hard and grass courts. A lower powered constant beam racquet would obviously be the next step (especially if he wants to beat Djokovic on HC) so who knows...
Whatever the case may be, it's rather shocking to me. Time will tell...
rodrigoamaral
Hall of Fame
You cannot be serious!!How comes ?
he was probably hitting with Verdasco here and decided to sit in his chair
DownTheLine
Hall of Fame
Does anyone else see the Dunlop stencil on his racqueT?
grimmbomb21
Professional
I heard from a very reliable source that Nadal will be with Dunlop before the US Open.
^^^Be advised that this source may or may not be reliable...or real.
^^^Be advised that this source may or may not be reliable...or real.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
He just happens to be sitting in a chair next to the bag while he re-grips his racquet. Nadal is in the middle of a 10 year deal with Babolat he signed in 2007.
04/18/07 - Babolat, one of the leading manufacturers of tennis racquets, announces that the company has just signed an extended contract with back-to-back French Open Champion, Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal (#2 in the ATP rankings) has signed a contract with the Babolat brand that will equip him with racquets, strings, grips, accessories and bags for the next 10 years. Thus, with the 21 year-old champion, Babolat will continue to develop the best technical equipment to suit his game.
With the announcement of the new contract, Babolat is also introducing the new Aeropro Drive racquet equipped with the Cortex System, the result of collaboration between the brand and the young Spanish champion. Rafael Nadal started playing with this new racquet at the Masters Series Monte-Carlo Tournament that began April 14, 2007.
“Rafael Nadal has signed a new contract with Babolat for 10 years. This is a true sign of confidence,” said Eric Babolat, CEO of Babolat. “We are proud of the collaboration with such a champion. We accompany him on his major tournaments; we listen to him to design a racquet that best fits his game. This collaboration is large for him and for us.”
http://www.tenniswire.org/archives/2007/apr/pr_779.html
04/18/07 - Babolat, one of the leading manufacturers of tennis racquets, announces that the company has just signed an extended contract with back-to-back French Open Champion, Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal (#2 in the ATP rankings) has signed a contract with the Babolat brand that will equip him with racquets, strings, grips, accessories and bags for the next 10 years. Thus, with the 21 year-old champion, Babolat will continue to develop the best technical equipment to suit his game.
With the announcement of the new contract, Babolat is also introducing the new Aeropro Drive racquet equipped with the Cortex System, the result of collaboration between the brand and the young Spanish champion. Rafael Nadal started playing with this new racquet at the Masters Series Monte-Carlo Tournament that began April 14, 2007.
“Rafael Nadal has signed a new contract with Babolat for 10 years. This is a true sign of confidence,” said Eric Babolat, CEO of Babolat. “We are proud of the collaboration with such a champion. We accompany him on his major tournaments; we listen to him to design a racquet that best fits his game. This collaboration is large for him and for us.”
http://www.tenniswire.org/archives/2007/apr/pr_779.html
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have that exact bag and it rules. Nads is probably just admiring it's versatility.
Babolast
Legend
No sir. He is locked in with Babolat until 2017.
Best response in the entire thread :lol:
Djokolate
Professional
So was Sharapova. Not saying it will happen but he probably can change if he wanted.
Djokolate
Professional
How comes ?
Lol at the two kids with cameras in the background
baseline_monster
Professional
Pretty sure this will be the bag of who he was hitting with. He hits with a lot of up and coming juniors at tournaments etc.
Jack Romeo
Professional
it's not such a little brand if mcenroe uses it...
Doubles
Legend
Mcenroe isn't exactly front page news anymore...
Jack Romeo
Professional
but he's still one of the most recognizable names in tennis, especially among americans. plus a lot of reputable pros use dunlop and a lot of their rackets are always getting reviewed here or in tennis magazine. this means that they do have brand recognition. the really smaller brands are solinco, power angle and avery.
Terre Battu
Rookie
How comes ?
He's also with two chairs, bottles of water, a fence, a Babolat racket in his hand, and surrounded by a bunch of kids.
Good observation TROLL!!!
I've only played Dunlop since 5th grade. I'll never switch, regardless of how "small" the brand is. I'll take my flexible, volley-master AG100s which have never been more than 1g difference in unstrung weight with respect to one another over a stiff Wilson or Babolat which have poor quality control every time there's a week in the month.
eidolonshinobi
Professional
Not if his knees wont give out first!
single_handed_champion
Professional
LOL, but wouldn't he rather (if he wanted a different brand and used a paintjob to conceal it), be using the Dunlop bag with a Babolat PJ?
SirGounder
Hall of Fame
Classic TW forums, making immediate assumptions.
