Looking through that vast Lendl gallery, I’m fascinated how Lendl started his career looking pretty cool style wise. Especially those publicity photos in a suit. But gradually looked more and more dorky as his career went on. By 1990 on, his kit was just peak-uncool. Those mizuno shirts with the Eagle on them… or those hats he wore with the flap on the back. Oh god, I’d rather play in a tutu than be seen in one of those.
atsIt looks like you might have forgotten about this thread of your own from a few years back. It contains a link to an older thread that shows a photo of the young Lendl wielding that presumed "Grand Prix", though the latter is now badly obscured by an annoying Photobucket watermark.
The "Grand Prix" is very different from its contemporary Kneissl contract frames. It also doesn't look very Fischer-y to me, as the latter seems to have been fully committed to making only diamond shaped mono-shaft frames with boxy beams at that time. Head frames were hollow by design, requiring a thick beam profile for added strength; the "Grand Prix" is too svelte to be similarly constructed. This leaves Montana as a (most?) likely candidate. After all, Adidas' first 100% composite frame, the 1975 "Adistar", was a reworked Montana "Powerplay". However, it's a pretty big jump from the "Powerplay" to the "Grand Prix", and there is no evidence of a Montana-badged "Grand Prix" from that era. So who knows?
In any case, Adidas was sourcing their frames from all sorts of manufacturers in the mid-late '70s, including very obscure small manufacturers that came and went almost unnoticed (e.g., Karl Heinz Kircherer's "Fiber Top"). It is entirely possible that the "Grand Prix" was not made by any of the Austrian vendors we have mentioned so far. There were other ski manufacturers of renown who had the means and knowhow to make this frame if they had been inclined to join the fray. Kästle and Blizzard are two significant players of that era that come to mind, who could have easily followed their competitors down this path, but were either too timid and/or too smart to take the plunge. Perhaps one of them did in fact test the water incognito through an Adidas contract?
This hat was real wise for extremely hot and sunburning conditions during Australian Open he played at, Mizuno designs just a matter of taste, pros just get their money for contract they've been signed, that's it.
I know, I’m just saying my opinion based on personal taste.
I think you evaluate Lendl's sartorial deficiencies rather well, considering you weren't around at the time. In the early to mid 80s he was 'trendy' albeit from an Eastern European standpoint, but by the late 80s it was like he was still trapped in the old times. Then again, his demeanour is rather studious, so I don't think he was ever going to look so natural in Agassi's jean-shorts!
Flexibility in the 30’s ra is not for everyone fo sho!
Ok, personally i hate modern knee-length shorts, invisible shorts and many ugly tennis clothing designs for which players would be life-time banned back then. Lendl looked classy on court.
Great pictures of Ivan, thank you!
I thought the modern trend was short shorts again?
What a great thread! It is not very well known that McEnroe used the Prince CTS Lightning 90 for a very brief time. I think only one tournament in Japan 1990.
I think he once used Prestige also.
Indeed, I think it was at Wimbledon in 1990, lost 1st round. Legend says he borrowed them to Goran Ivanisevic lol. I saw him play with various frames, once a Fischer Pro Classic 90 (Bercy 90 or 91, can't recall exactly) and even a Yonex, at the 1992 FO. Never saw him with a Prince though.
I hope the fashion world is moving to this direction. But i don't think shorts will be really short again.
Yes, agree.
Imagine if Lendl showed up with a mullet toupee with highlights for his match against Agassi.
Lendl was about functional side of tennis not about his image in it.
There was another thread on this board where someone pointed out that it was actually somewhat popular with doubles players in the late 80s. Listed off a half dozen pros and some pictures of pros using the Profile (usually the 95 head version).
The Smiths, of course
Good, but I think he really meant The Cure right?
Did you ever produce a book or webpage for your research on rackets and history?It looks like you might have forgotten about this thread of your own from a few years back
The "Grand Prix" is very different from its contemporary Kneissl contract frames. It also doesn't look very Fischer-y to me, as the latter seems to have been fully committed to making only diamond shaped mono-shaft frames with boxy beams at that time. Head frames were hollow by design, requiring a thick beam profile for added strength; the "Grand Prix" is too svelte to be similarly constructed. This leaves Montana as a (most?) likely candidate. After all, Adidas' first 100% composite frame, the 1975 "Adistar", was a reworked Montana "Powerplay". However, it's a pretty big jump from the "Powerplay" to the "Grand Prix", and there is no evidence of a Montana-badged "Grand Prix" from that era. So who knows?
In any case, Adidas was sourcing their frames from all sorts of manufacturers in the mid-late '70s, including very obscure small manufacturers that came and went almost unnoticed (e.g., Karl Heinz Kircherer's "Fiber Top"). It is entirely possible that the "Grand Prix" was not made by any of the Austrian vendors we have mentioned so far. There were other ski manufacturers of renown who had the means and knowhow to make this frame if they had been inclined to join the fray. Kästle and Blizzard are two significant players of that era that come to mind, who could have easily followed their competitors down this path, but were either too timid and/or too smart to take the plunge. Perhaps one of them did in fact test the water incognito through an Adidas contract?
Agree.Did you ever produce a book or webpage for your research on rackets and history?
Your contributions here on TW look to be part of such a worthy single reference.
It could be the modern transition from the Keubler and Cherry reference bibles
Did you ever produce a book or webpage for your research on rackets and history?
Your contributions here on TW look to be part of such a worthy single reference.
It could be the modern transition from the Keubler and Cherry reference bibles
I’ll buy a copy or ticket or whatever the final product ends up being.
It looks like you might have forgotten about this thread of your own from a few years back
The "Grand Prix" is very different from its contemporary Kneissl contract frames. It also doesn't look very Fischer-y to me, as the latter seems to have been fully committed to making only diamond shaped mono-shaft frames with boxy beams at that time. Head frames were hollow by design, requiring a thick beam profile for added strength; the "Grand Prix" is too svelte to be similarly constructed. This leaves Montana as a (most?) likely candidate. After all, Adidas' first 100% composite frame, the 1975 "Adistar", was a reworked Montana "Powerplay". However, it's a pretty big jump from the "Powerplay" to the "Grand Prix", and there is no evidence of a Montana-badged "Grand Prix" from that era. So who knows?
In any case, Adidas was sourcing their frames from all sorts of manufacturers in the mid-late '70s, including very obscure small manufacturers that came and went almost unnoticed (e.g., Karl Heinz Kircherer's "Fiber Top"). It is entirely possible that the "Grand Prix" was not made by any of the Austrian vendors we have mentioned so far. There were other ski manufacturers of renown who had the means and knowhow to make this frame if they had been inclined to join the fray. Kästle and Blizzard are two significant players of that era that come to mind, who could have easily followed their competitors down this path, but were either too timid and/or too smart to take the plunge. Perhaps one of them did in fact test the water incognito through an Adidas contract?
@Sanglier you sir are an exceptional writer ! I love and learn every time I read from your excerpts.
I heard those commonly had issues with the plastic throat bridge fracturing from stress. If that could happen from average Joe’s swinging it, I wonder how a pro could ever use one without it breaking in short order?
So I've finally took the chance to measure my 3 F200 Rossis from 1982 on a Babolat RDC today. Specs come unstrung, with a Head leather grip.
I seriously had no idea he ever used anything but his trusty 200G.
I see a few of their models over on the auction site. Are they any good? Some of their wide body frames look VERY wide. Probably have a ton of power.
why would Mac put a Snauwaert stencil on a Dunlop racket, did they even sponsor him, and did Dunlop ever dump him? Was it like when Muster painted a Head Prestige in Kneissel colors and tried to pretend it was one of their rackets even though it looked like nothing they ever made?
At one point Mac had a deal with Snauweart, I remember an ad in a magazine circa 89 with Mac endorsing a Snauweart. Guess they didn't manage to make a racket he liked, or didn't even have a chance to. Common story on the tour, Safin's Head-Dunlop saga being another famous example.
Yeah, Snauwaert had a whole line of rackets marketed with John’s name on it. He never played with a Snauwaert. Was always his Max200G with full Dunlop cosmetics with a Snauwaert stencil
Looks like a Max200G but it has a grommet strip and isn’t injection molded like the Max200G was. Snauwaert tried to make a copy but John didn’t use one in a tournament.
The Donnay Vibrazorb! Hated those; looked goofy.
