P12-14 Wimbledon:SGBGolf_NEW_template 24/04/2009 09:38 Page 14
Wimbledon Tennis
“But YouTek is about a lot more than the technology. The YouTek
umbrella is designed to help players get more enjoyment out of their game
overall, rather than just talking about technology, which does not attract a
lot of people, particularly kids.”
While Djokovic is set to play Wimbledon with his YouTek Speed (RRP:
£179.99), it is unclear yet whether Murray will make the switch to YouTek
by the time of the Championships. The Scot has had so much success with
his Microgel Radical in recent months that he might
be reluctant to alter even his wristband
formation, let alone his racket. Murray has
won three early-season ATP World Tour
titles, and in the process he put together
an early-season won-loss record of 26-2,
which was a world best.
In the women’s draw, Maria
Sharapova will be hoping to put recent
injury problems behind her, playing
with the Speedport Black from Prince,
which is the same racket played by the
American Bryan brothers, the men’s
doubles world number-one pair.
Wilson, which Preece claims is the UK’s
best-selling racket brand, is hoping to continue
its recent success in grand slam tournaments
with both Serena and Venus Williams playing the
[K] Blade Team, which Preece describes as “a very
light racket and very manoeuvrable”, and which
comes with an RRP of £139.95. Perhaps the most
photographed junior player in Wimbledon history, the
homegrown Laura Robson, will be playing with the [K]
Blade 98 (RRP: £159.95).
In 2007, seven out of the year’s eight grand slam
tennis titles were won with Wilson rackets, while the
brand claimed four out of eight last year, but with
Babolat, Head and Prince all so well represented
alongside Wilson among the world’s finest players in
2009, the grand slam spoils look set to be shared more
evenly this year.
106 on the bounce
While tennis rackets at the Wimbledon Championships will come in all
colours and technological variations, the balls at Wimbledon will be as
consistent as they have been for the past 105 years, which is the
length of time Slazenger has been the official supplier of tennis
balls to the Championships. The All England Lawn Tennis Club
claims it is the longest partnership in sporting goods history.
Slazenger started supplying the balls in 1902, and for its
106th year in 2009, the brand will be delivering no less than
52,000 ‘Wimbledon 2009’ branded balls for the
tournament.
“It is a large quantity of balls,” says Slazenger’s Jamie
Douglas with a degree of under-statement. “They are
manufactured to the highest standard and there is a great
deal of quality control – each ball is hand selected – so it is a
very big operation. The balls are made to a very high
specification to ensure there is minimal variation between
them.
Slazenger, which remains the UK’s market-leading ball brand,
is running a consumer promotion at Wimbledon this year.
Wimbledon balls will be on sale in the IMG-run merchandise outlet at
the Championships, and anyone who finds a white ball in their can will
win a pair of debenture tickets for the 2010 Championships.
14 SGB SPORTS APRIL 2009
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