✏️ Updated: October 26, 2024
For a rich sport, tennis only has a few racquet manufacturers who have caught the fancy of the top players. Six major tennis racquet brands sponsor nearly 90% of the top ATP players who are active today. Unlike the revolving door of tennis apparel sponsorships, the manufacturers and players appear to align on longer-term contracts and racquet customizations that keep both sides happy. While the high cost of sponsorships and long-term deals deter smaller tennis racquet brands, it may also stem from players’ reluctance to switch to unfamiliar gear.
It wouldn’t hurt to check out what the professionals play with if you are in the market for a new tennis racquet. This post includes links to some tennis racquet models, additional models are available at the manufacturers’ websites.
So, can a good tennis racquet improve your game?
Unfortunately, it’s not about a good racquet. It’s about the right racquet. A tennis racquet that works well for you may not work well for me. Even at the ATP level, you would find that two players using the same tennis racquet brand often use different models based on their personal preferences and playing styles.
So, here’s a list of the top tennis racquet brands popular among top ATP professionals.
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Head
Howard Head, an American businessman, started Head. Launched initially as a company that manufactured alpine skis, Head has come a long way and is a prominent supplier of racquets and sports accessories. Technologies such as Graphene 360 and Adaptive String Pattern are examples of Head’s innovation in racquet technologies.
Many top-100 ATP players play with Head racquets. The prominent pros who use Head are Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Andrey Rublev. Check out Head racquets on Amazon.
Wilson
The sporting goods company, Wilson, has its roots in the meat-packing business from which it expanded to manufacturing tennis strings. Wilson has become a sporting powerhouse with products spanning multiple sports. Iconic Wilson lines, popular among professionals and amateurs for decades, include Pro Staff and Blade racquets.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex De Minaur are two professional tennis players, among many others, who use Wilson racquets.
Babolat
The French company Babolat is a well-known sponsor of tennis racquets and footwear. Rafael Nadal, one of the game’s greats, popularized Babolat’s range of colorful tennis racquets, creating a following for it. Babolat is the inventor of natural gut strings and has a strong reputation for its focus on innovation in racquet technologies
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the heir apparent, has also embraced Babolat, along with others such as Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada. You can see Babolat racquet models here.
Yonex
The Japanese manufacturer of sporting equipment, Yonex, is perhaps most recognized in badminton circles. Yonex is a major tennis racquet sponsor with several big-name players as its ambassadors. The isometric head shape and innovative materials like Namd are unique to Yonex tennis racquets.
Norwegian Tennis professional Casper Ruud, and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland wield Yonex tennis racquets.
Tecnifibre
The French company Tecnifibre has its roots in racquet strings and stringing machines. Currently, Tecnifibre is one of the leading racquet sponsors in professional tennis. Tecnifibre’s T-Fight and T-Flash racquet lines are popular among competitive players.
Prominent players who use Tecnifibre racquets include Russian player Daniil Medvedev and Dutchman Tallon Grekspoor. Check out the Tecnifibre TFight tennis racquet on Amazon.
Dunlop
Originally a British company, Dunlop is owned by Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Dunlop has been in the sports business for over a hundred years and is the official ball and (non-exclusive) racquet of the ATP Tour. From its Maxply wooden racquets to current models, Dunlop has a legacy of innovation in racquet technology.
Perhaps not as popular among the pros as before, Dunlop racquets are currently utilized by Englishman Jack Draper and Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Prince
Prince is a company with its roots in Atlanta, Georgia. It gets its name from Princeton, New Jersey, where its founder, Robert McClure, hails. Prince is known for its O3 and Textreme technology, designed to enhance their racquets’ power and performance.
The number of active pro players sponsored by Prince has declined over the years. Recently retired American player John Isner is known to have used Prince racquets to serve his way out of challenging situations in many major tournaments during his career.
You can check out Prince tennis racquets here.
Artengo
The brand Artengo is the racquet sports line of the French retailer Decathlon. Artengo is known for its focus on providing high-quality yet affordable racquets for recreational and competitive players.
Since 2022, Artengo has sponsored veteran French player Gael Monfils’s racquet, shoes, and apparel. Currently, Monfils is the only active Top-100 ATP player that uses Artengo racquets.
Solinco
A relatively new entrant in the tennis racquet business, Solinco Sports is based in Torrance, California. Solinco’s Hyper-G and Tour Bite strings have gained popularity among professional players. The company entered the racquet market by launching the Whiteout and Blackout tennis racquet models.
Pro players who have used Solinco include the Bryan Brothers and inactive player Jenson Brooksby. You can see the Solinco tennis racquet line here.
The world of tennis racquet brands is dominated by a select few, each with its own rich history and association with top ATP professionals. While this post has provided a glimpse into these leading brands and their notable sponsored players, it’s important to remember that the right tennis racquet for you is a highly personal choice. Factors such as playing style, preferences, and even physical attributes can significantly impact the suitability of a racquet. We encourage you to consider your options carefully and, if possible, try out different racquets before deciding.
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