Del Potro Has Only Two Racquets Left

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 8th January 2014

APIA Sydney International Tennis Tournament

Del Potro Has Only Two Racquets Left

epa04011756 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina celebrates his win against Nicolas Mahut of France at the APIA Sydney International Tennis Tournament in Sydney, Australia, 08 January 2014. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Some players can play with just about any old frame. Other feel like their racquet is an extension of their body. That’s the case with Juan Martin Del Potro, who only has two Wilson frames left that he is currently using.

He tried out some new racquets during the off season but wasn’t quite satisfied with them. He feels like the company is close to coming up with a frame that he will be pleased with, but he wasn’t ready to bring one of them to the Australian Open.

“It’s not easy to change racquet,” said Del Potro, who has been playing with a K Factor Six-One 95. “You can see what’s happen with Roger [Federer] last year. He try to change and he lost confidence with his game. And also, we don’t have too much time to try racquets, to change, because every tournament are very important for us. If I change the racquet during the off‑season, then I came here to play a Grand Slam and I don’t feel 100%. Your mind is start to working in the negative position. But I’m proud to have Wilson behind me, because I know they are working really hard. And I’m still exciting to find a racquet with them. I think we are closer.

Del Potro won his opening match of the year at the Sydney International, a tournament where he has had a lot of success. Next week he will head to the Australian Open, where he is hoping to strike thousands of balls. He feels like a change is overdue when it comes to his racquet, but not when he is in contention for another Grand Slam event crown.

“I need to change racquets, because I use it a lot. I think the other guys, they have advantage to me when they play with six or eight racquets in one match. We are working really hard to find a good racquet for me.”

Del Potro admits that he is a bit obsessive when it comes to his frames. Federer, who has changed racquets to a new unidentified Wilson, said last week that he does not even know how much his new racquet weighs.

That not the case with the Argentine, who is precise about everything. “Every player has different feelings with the racquets, but I feel like it’s the most important thing we have,” he said. “The racquet is our life.”

But what happens if the Tower of Tandil breaks both of his frames in the next few weeks. Will he walk away from an event midstream? Not likely as he will call on his friend Federer.

“I already asked Roger to give some racquets to me. He plays with Wilson, too,” he said with a laugh. Maybe I can play better than him also.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roger Federer, Sports, Sydney, Tennis, Tennis News, Wilson