By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday March 1, 2025
Madison Keys switched racquets and strings and finally won a major title in January. Could Stefanos Tsitsipas be next?
The Greek played with a not so mysterious black frame this week in Dubai – not his usual Wilson Blade – and claimed his first ATP 500 title. Rumor has it that the racquet is a Babolat Aero, but Tsitsipas has not confirmed.
Here we have it.Tsitsipas’ Babolat Aero that he used to win Dubai.
Time for his agent to grab that contract… https://t.co/sC7qCiLbPV
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 1, 2025
But the Greek does confirm that it is a new racquet – impossible not to notice.
Apparently with courts and balls slowing the pace down, Tsitsipas is looking for an edge to help bring out the best in his attacking game. Here’s what he had to say to reporters:
“Comfort is one thing that it brings to my game. That is something that I was trying to kind of add into my game. I’ve been receiving some of that extra help. I’ve spoken about how balls and courts have changed over the last couple of years. That’s just me trying to adapt to that. That’s all.”
Tsitsipas, who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 in Saturday’s Dubai final, will return the Top-10 at No.9 in Monday’s ATP rankings. Perhaps he’ll get back to the Top-5, now that he has a new secret weapon.
“It was kind of a no-brainer, I feel like, especially when you see the way things respond and the way you remember things being a few years back,” Tsitsipas said of the decision to switch racquets.
“It’s, let’s say, foolish of me not to try and make the change… These changes sometimes are necessary because you don’t want to be stuck in the same pattern over and over again. I feel like it’s something refreshing and a good addition so far. It definitely brings that refreshing feeling.”
