Will Djokovic need to change racquet to break new records?

Break To Win

Semi-Pro
Maybe if things change and he ends up losing Bo5 matches more often, will he want a bigger racket?

Maybe this year it won't be necessary yet, but maybe next year.

Ruling out a return to the Wilson H22, perhaps a Head Speed Pro (18 x 19) or a current Prestige MP (18 x 19)

Any thoughts about that?
 
Last edited:
At 37 the last thing he wants to do is changing racquets, his racquet size is perfectly valid for his gamestyle and todays tennis, a bigger headsize would decrease precision and he doesnt want to be grinding out there, feds case was a rare and extreme one, he was basically the only one at the top using a 90sq inch frame
 
Last edited:
22a_HarryFerrariDesk4.jpg
 
throwing the following questions to the ether, might be worth discussing: what is the difference between D22 and H22?

was D22 developed around the same time as H22?

what feedback if any did Djokovic and others provide on H22 that got plugged into the development of TK346?
 
I think he should, if only for the “Head should release his real racquet”-crowd. If he switches they won’t know what the hell to do anymore(y)
 
Maybe if things change and he ends up losing Bo5 matches more often, will he want a bigger racket?

Maybe this year it won't be necessary yet, but maybe next year.

Ruling out a return to the H22, perhaps a Head Speed Pro (18 x 19) or a current Prestige MP (18 x 19)

Any thoughts about that?

He won’t ever switch, maybe some mods with Roman Prokes but that’s all I’d ever expect
 
throwing the following questions to the ether, might be worth discussing: what is the difference between D22 and H22?

was D22 developed around the same time as H22?

what feedback if any did Djokovic and others provide on H22 that got plugged into the development of TK346?
The H22 was developed to take the Head Radical players from Head, including Novak that played with the LM radical before switching to Wilson. The D22 had different layup and string pattern. I believe the mold was similar if not identical. I think i had one of D22 a ling time ago.

Head brought Novak back with a special racket, PT113B1 that was a version of the Radical MP. I have one of the prototypes, TGK113B in 16x19 that was one of the first test frames he tested on the way back to Head, just after AO08
 
Roman does not do his rackets customization. Head does.
Didn’t Roman do the extended mod? That’s technically customization right ? Or maybe he just worked with him on the details and head executed? There’s definitely prokes involvement in his evolution that’s well documented
 
Didn’t Roman do the extended mod? That’s technically customization right ? Or maybe he just worked with him on the details and head executed? There’s definitely prokes involvement in his evolution that’s well documented
At that time, his rackets were customized by P1 and not by Head. He did work with Roman and Agassi to change the original setup (slightly extended, lower weight and SW, 18x19). He is not working with Roman since Head took over the customization. The team at Head that does his rackets is superb
 
The H22 was developed to take the Head Radical players from Head, including Novak that played with the LM radical before switching to Wilson. The D22 had different layup and string pattern. I believe the mold was similar if not identical. I think i had one of D22 a ling time ago.

Head brought Novak back with a special racket, PT113B1 that was a version of the Radical MP. I have one of the prototypes, TGK113B in 16x19 that was one of the first test frames he tested on the way back to Head, just after AO08
That, plus more money than Wilson was offering, which was why he went to Wilson in the first place.
 
The H22 was developed to take the Head Radical players from Head, including Novak that played with the LM radical before switching to Wilson. The D22 had different layup and string pattern. I believe the mold was similar if not identical. I think i had one of D22 a ling time ago.

Head brought Novak back with a special racket, PT113B1 that was a version of the Radical MP. I have one of the prototypes, TGK113B in 16x19 that was one of the first test frames he tested on the way back to Head, just after AO08
I've heard D22 described as different things over the years. interesting it was the same mold

so one of the frames they gave him to test was the TGK113B aka the Chinese L4 i./Ti. Radical MP? that in a 16x19 would be fun. it was early in the recruiting process. they must have been holding onto the Austrian stuff to seal the deal
 
I've heard D22 described as different things over the years. interesting it was the same mold

so one of the frames they gave him to test was the TGK113B aka the Chinese L4 i./Ti. Radical MP? that in a 16x19 would be fun. it was early in the recruiting process. they must have been holding onto the Austrian stuff to seal the deal
I Believe the D22 is basically a 95sq/inch version of the H22. I remember seeing a pair of them on an auction site in an nblade PJ and they were listed as being 95.
 
I've heard D22 described as different things over the years. interesting it was the same mold

so one of the frames they gave him to test was the TGK113B aka the Chinese L4 i./Ti. Radical MP? that in a 16x19 would be fun. it was early in the recruiting process. they must have been holding onto the Austrian stuff to seal the deal
No, back in 2008, there was not clear distinction: PT = Austria, TGK = China thing. The TGK113B that I have is the same exact thing as the PT113B and was made for him in Kennelbach and has not seen China. The TK113B mold has not seen China so far. You are speculating too much with no real basis to it.
 
I've heard D22 described as different things over the years. interesting it was the same mold

so one of the frames they gave him to test was the TGK113B aka the Chinese L4 i./Ti. Radical MP? that in a 16x19 would be fun. it was early in the recruiting process. they must have been holding onto the Austrian stuff to seal the deal
recall he was about to switch to Adidas' ill fated Barricade frames before he ended up going to Head
 
I don’t think so
well "about to switch" idk and there was a lot of discussion in the media/on here that people were aware he was possibly switching to adidas before he eventually ended up with Head and got given his own line, but he certainly was seen playing with one at least once in a practice session in the time the contract negotiations took place, and Adidas ended up launching the racquets in early 09 with no players, so I suspect, given they were his clothing sponsor at the time, it was certainly on the cards to some degree.
 
well "about to switch" idk and there was a lot of discussion in the media/on here that people were aware he was possibly switching to adidas before he eventually ended up with Head and got given his own line, but he certainly was seen playing with one at least once in a practice session in the time the contract negotiations took place, and Adidas ended up launching the racquets in early 09 with no players, so I suspect, given they were his clothing sponsor at the time, it was certainly on the cards to some degree.
If you got your info from this guy, I’d say it never happened…

 
If you got your info from this guy, I’d say it never happened…

haha no, info just a general memory of the time and there was 100% a picture of him on a blog or something practicing with an adidas frame (or a paintjob), but yes, obviously we all know he ended up with Head. I'm sure there was a bidding war for him at the time with Wilson trying to keep him, Head and Adidas promising him his own line and more $ etc...

Sports Business Journal wrote about it so I very much doubt it was never on the table - https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.c...rces-Adidas-Wants-Djokovic-To-Get-A-Grip.aspx
 
If you got your info from this guy, I’d say it never happened…

I remember it being discussed at the time as well.

from this thread
Interesting. So Djokovic started playing a Head Radical, then he switched to a Wilson Radical, and soon he'll be using an Adidas Radical.
and here we are 15+ years later discussing the same thing lmao
 
djokovic should consider using an actual speed one day. Maybe it will speed him up to win another 10 majors. Lol.
 
He does not need additional 10 majors. He has more than anyone ever had and ever will have, he has more money from tournaments than anyone else had or will any time soon.

If he switches, he should switch to a frying pan
Haha well hold your horses, people said the same thing about sampras, federer and nadal before and were proven wrong - i think its very likely someone will win that many again at some point lol
 
Haha well hold your horses, people said the same thing about sampras, federer and nadal before and were proven wrong - i think its very likely someone will win that many again at some point lol
I meant during my life time.
We are at 24, and closest truly active guy today is at 2...
 
not bait

we'll see the UTR scale being broken before records fall. and when Carlos puts it all together and with Sinner starting to pick up steam, we'll be saying they are better than the greats sooner rather than later even if the grand slam win count may not reach 24. I'm old, but not so old to remember how this was being discussed regarding Laver's records for instance.

I feel pretty comfortable saying Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are better than Tom Brady even if Brady is more decorated
 
I meant during my life time.
We are at 24, and closest truly active guy today is at 2...
Eh we’re in the transition phase atm between fedalovic and whatever is next, we might go into another phase where its more like the 90s/00s and various guys were winning but You never know who is going to step up and start dominating - i dont think federer was really expected to suddenly start dominating at the back end of 03 or nadal to follow quickly after and eventually djokovic and basically share all the slams for 20 years
 
If a current player wins a CYGS Djokovic’s major’s record will pale significantly. The CYGS has been the pinnacle of achievement in tennis since Budge became one of only two men to achieve it; the majors record was ignored - and regarded as a sham in the Emerson days - before Sampras championed it.
Novak was oh so close but couldn’t get over the final hurdle; that’s what makes it so special, the accumulating pressure, versus mere accumulation year on year.
 
Last edited:
Djoker might think about building his next career off of this one. The end is near and he could choose not to alienate his world audience which could provide a very comfortable tennis afterlife.
 
At 37 the last thing he wants to do is changing racquets, his racquet size is perfectly valid for his gamestyle and todays tennis, a bigger headsize would decrease precision and he doesnt want to be grinding out there, feds case was a rare and extreme one, he was basically the only one at the top using a 90sq inch frame
If it weren't for body limitations, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic would have dominated for a few more years!!!

The fitness of your body is more important than a lot of experience, because to use experience you need to have a fit body.

For now, there are no such supplements, vitamins and other legal or illegal supplements to prevent the body from aging after the age of 35!!!

In my opinion, Djokovic's end is near, and there is nothing he can do about it, body is body, he will soon start to weaken significantly...

And changing the racket won't change anything, it makes no sense, now in his case only the fitness of the body counts!!!.
 
He does not need additional 10 majors. He has more than anyone ever had and ever will have, he has more money from tournaments than anyone else had or will any time soon.

If he switches, he should switch to a frying pan
I appreciate that you specified ‘money from tournaments’ - albeit that with inflation current top players will always have more prize money than those that came before - as we all know who the total tennis income goat is.
#billionerer
 
I appreciate that you specified ‘money from tournaments’ - albeit that with inflation current top players will always have more prize money than those that came before - as we all know who the total tennis income goat is.
#billionerer
Absolutely no difference to you if one is worth $600M and the other $1B.
However, 24 (and counting) will always be waaaayyyy more than 20!
 
I still think Djokovic need to give speed a try before his career ends. If he used a speed in the final yesterday the result would be completely different.
 
Back
Top