Equipment Tennis Coaching
Six underrated racquets that combine thoughtful design with dependable performance
Six overlooked racquets that share high-end design traits and deliver controlled, usable performances.
Manufacturers often reserve the loudest marketing for a few headline models. Here are six lesser-promoted racquets that borrow much of the same DNA and deliver useful performance for players who value control, feel and playability.
Babolat Pure Strike 100 (16×20)
This entry to the Pure Strike line favors temperate response over raw power. A conservative string pattern, a low RA rating (61) and a light swingweight (319) give it a softer, classic feel that differs from typical Babolat models. It is plush and accurate for strategic all-court players, though more advanced hitters may add weight to generate and handle heavier shots. The frame is presented in a sharp carbon grey cosmetic.
Dunlop CX 400 Tour
Despite the Tour label and control positioning, this frame is approachable. It produces pace and depth with modest effort while offering greater command than many similarly spec’d racquets. The balance of firm yet comfortable response and well-rounded playability lets players attack from all areas of the court. Power and spin are slightly restrained compared with some rivals, and a limited-edition cosmetic nods to the classic Max 200G.
Tecnifibre T-Fight 300
A new spec in the T-Fight family, the 300 pairs a 100 square-inch head with a 300g weight. The racquet is lively and highly maneuverable, with foam filling in the frame creating a crisp, clean feel at contact. It offers more assistance than a pure control frame without becoming overpowering. The constant beam is not overly stiff or thick, and the model is available in standard white or a special blue “ID” colorway.
Volkl Vostra V9 (305g)
The new Vostra V9 mold sits between the V8 and V10 lines. An extra cross string and a thinner beam increase control and versatility relative to the V8, while a larger head size and slightly thicker beam make it more user friendly than the V10. The result is a predictable, forgiving frame that provides enough pop to finish points or escape trouble without becoming hard to manage.
Wilson RF 01
Though Roger Federer is associated with the RF 01 Pro, the lighter RF 01 has broader appeal. Federer’s design emphasis on rapid acceleration shows in the tapered beam that helps generate pace and spin from a conservatively spaced string bed and a relatively small sweet spot. Directional control and feel on clean contact are strong, and the racquet excels when played on the front foot by experienced, all-court players.
Yonex EZONE 98 Tour
The EZONE 98 Tour appears on this list by name as another under-the-radar option worth noting.
Equipment Player News
Raducanu Leaves Nike for Uniqlo Ahead of the Sunshine Double
Raducanu leaves Nike for Uniqlo; brand teases new face. Report: she’ll help design and run outreach.
Emma Raducanu has ended a long apparel relationship with Nike, the brand that sponsored her since she was 15, and has signed with Uniqlo. The 2021 US Open champion will be the first female tennis player to join the Japanese label after the move was confirmed by the brand on Monday.
During the offseason Raducanu was seen “experimenting” with a Yonex racquet, only to remain with Wilson once the season began. Contract talk has trailed her for months; tennis podcaster Craig Shapiro claimed last month that the Brit would make upwards of $3 million annually with an impending switch to the Japanese brand.
Uniqlo teased the signing by posting the body of a female player posed in blue tennis attire with red details on its social channels before revealing Raducanu as the new face. The brand’s announcement included the line: “Emma will champion UNIQLO’s LifeWear philosophy, which is committed to pursuing excellence, making meaningful contributions to society, and empowering the next generation,” the announcement on Uniqlo’s channels read.
Nike remains a sponsor of top players named in recent coverage, and Raducanu is the latest prominent athlete to depart the sportswear giant. Other recent moves away from Nike noted in reports include Taylor Fritz (Boss), Frances Tiafoe (Lululemon) and Jack Draper (Vuori).
Raducanu’s deal with Uniqlo has been compared in reporting to the arrangement the brand struck with Roger Federer in 2018. A report in The Athletic said that “Raducanu will play an active role in designing her on-court apparel and will participate in community-engagement activities worldwide, in a similar way to Federer and the actress Cate Blanchett, who joined as a global brand ambassador last summer.”
Equipment Milano Cortina 2026 Player News
Nike Atelier unveils one-of-one winter performance look for Jannik Sinner
Nike Atelier created a one-of-one winter performance look with Jannik Sinner for Milan Cortina. 2026
Nike’s design division, Nike Atelier, collaborated with Jannik Sinner to produce a one-of-one performance outfit that nods to his alpine roots during the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Raised near the Dolomites, Sinner was a national champion in giant slalom before focusing on tennis, and the bespoke collection was intended to reflect that background.
The custom set included a bespoke jacket, an insulated vest featuring adaptive A.I.R. technology, tailored pants and matching footwear. Sinner wore the pieces for one-on-one interviews with global fashion media in Milan alongside Nike Chief Design Officer Martin Lotti and at a special event marking the relaunch of All Conditions Gear, known as ACG.
“For me, it’s very important to always have a small sign of where I’m from,” the ATP’s world No. 2 said via the Nike website.
The sculptural, winter-ready silhouette emphasizes deep pleats and a boxy cocoon shape, and it served as a focal point for Nike’s presence at the Games. Nike is not an official Winter Olympics partner, but the brand maintained a visible presence in Milan and Cortina through pop-up activations. Those included a surprise appearance when Sinner punched tickets aboard the “ACG Express” at Milan’s Centrale station while wearing pieces from his custom collection.
Made to Sinner’s exact specifications by Nike Atelier, the outfit was crafted by Senior Design Director Raffaella Barbey in collaboration with Lotti and a multidisciplinary team. Barbey conducted fittings with Sinner in Melbourne during his Australian Open run and refined the garments through multiple rounds of feedback and iteration.
“When a brand invests this much thought and energy into a single moment, it shows they really care about making the athlete feel special. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I love being with Nike—they make you feel important.”
“This experience felt very different from work I’ve done with other brands,” Sinner says. “I was more involved in the process. There were a lot of conversations about what could be better, what wasn’t right, what worked well. In the end, we came out with an incredible result.”
World No. 2 Sinner opened the year with a run to the semifinals at the Australian Open, where he had been the two-time defending champion, before falling to a resurgent Novak Djokovic in five sets.
ATP Equipment Grand Slam
Air Jordan 7 ‘Tennis Day’ pays homage to Andre Agassi’s 1990 pink kit for US Open release
Air Jordan 7 ‘Tennis Day’ tribute to Andre Agassi due at US Open, echoing his 1990 pink look later.
A sneaker styled in tribute to Andre Agassi is expected to debut during the US Open, reviving one of his most memorable looks. The International Tennis Hall of Famer is reportedly receiving an Air Jordan 7 ‘Tennis Day’ that channels his vintage Air Tech Challenge 2 design.
Reports describe the colorway as Phantom/Lemon Twist/Pink Blast/Anthracite. Official information is limited, but a newly circulated visual mock-up suggests the shoe will reference the popping pink outfit Agassi wore to reach his first Grand Slam final in Paris in 1990.
The release is timed to coincide with the US Open, a tournament Agassi won twice, and the reported design connects a modern Air Jordan 7 to the player’s on-court style from that era. While details remain sparse, the mock-up and color notes frame the sneaker as a clear nod to that distinctive ensemble.
Agassi has spoken about that Roland Garros kit, calling it one of his favorites and recalling how his black denim shorts, hot-pink tights, matching pink-print top and headband, and sneakers drew criticism at the 1990 tournament. The criticism came from Philippe Chatrier, who was also the head of the French tennis federation and the International Tennis Federation president at Roland Garros in 1990.
“At the time, [he] was thinking about bringing in a dress code,” Agassi recalled, “so I did what any noble person would do and I called him a bozo in the press conference. That was a little bit regrettable, but it was an honest reaction to someone telling me what I had to wear.”
Until an official announcement confirms construction, materials and availability, the connection between the Air Jordan 7 ‘Tennis Day’ and Agassi’s 1990 look rests on mock-ups and reports. The stated timing during the US Open and the specific Phantom/Lemon Twist/Pink Blast/Anthracite colorway position the shoe as a nostalgic tribute to a defining fashion moment in Agassi’s career.
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