Rublev overcomes, Swiatek bakes, and does Alcaraz need a new racquet? THIS WEEK IN TENNIS

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[@Anton.Arkhipov]

Rublev was ill the whole week, with high temperature and aching throat… today went through checkup in Madrid hospital, we’ll see if he plays Rome… Crazy stuff he still won the tournament and was so solid against Felix, who played well until maybe very end.

[@pierre-marc.gareau]

About Madison Keys racquet, I work in a pro shop in Montreal Canada and I talked to Keys'hitting partner who was a local junior. He gave me a racquet to string that Keys previously gave to him and it was a Wilson H22 18x20 painted like a V7 Blade. So I'm pretty sure she's still using a H22 in a 16x19 pattern.

[@outcometechnology]

As you said Jonas, the toughest thing about trying to address Alcaraz's arm issues from a standpoint of the racquet setup, is that he's used to such a low spec. Adding recoil weight (the primary physical spec that drives arm comfort) isn't really much of an option, at least not if he wants to preserve identical swing mechanics and racquet head speed. As such, I think the best recourse is trying to minimize harmful vibrations and as much impact trauma as possible, via a combo of string adjustment and possibly a layup/flex change, either integrated or added on afterwards (silicone, sorbothane, etc). Beyond that, he may have to look at changing frames altogether.

[@jorgeandrescoppiano.5715]

Lovely comment. Or natural gut crosses. It’s weird. 5 grams for recoil weight. Sorbothane? That’s brand new for me. Maybe Poron XDR could work too. Smaller grip too. And tackier like the Wilson Pro. To grip the most relaxed. The least shock transfer, and least strain.

[@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten]

I don't think natural gut in the crosses is an option for Alcaraz with the amount of spin and power he brings.​@@jorgeandrescoppiano.5715

[@cactuschef5229]

Nole, Fed, and Rafa all changed racquets or adjusted their specs over their career. Positive results for all. I don’t see it being a huge hurdle for Alcaraz.

[@jorgeandrescoppiano.5715]

@@cactuschef5229 good point

[@outcometechnology]

@@cactuschef5229 True, although they all stayed somewhat "close to home" with their choices. In the same vein, I would think something like a Dunlop SX 300 Tour or, if he didn't mind the isometric head, a VCore 98/Tour, would be decent enough alternatives -- similar spin-focused attacking 98's.

[@ktran702]

Alcaraz’s racquet adjustment might be what he needs! My guess is his racquet can get pushed around when he’s late on contact causing the stretch and strain on his pronator teres

[@hybrid11theory75]

I mean Leather in combo with unforgiving/stiff frame + stiff poly is the simplest receipt to destroy your arm... sooner or later! It's like buying a racquet with stats of 0 / 10 comfort, LOL

[@fretstain]

looking forward to the phantoms review!

[@fangeming1]

Good analysis on Alcaraz racket and strings. I believe your expertise can be useful for top players too. Hope you will be heard.

[@jiggs_life_goals]

Do you know if there will be a new Phantom 97p? Im only seeing 100 in the new range.

[@nicolasjean5776]

Hi Jonas, great idea to change your logo. I like it 👍🏻

[@Tennisnerd]

Thanks Nicolas! It was time 🎾🤓

[@rsh8057]

I don't think Alcaraz' injury is directly related to his racquet. Mechanism is probably related to his straight arm Forehand and torquing for maximum spin. Now the reason I say not directly is that if you give him a different setup, he would modify his motion presumably... but that would be a big change and affect his confidence. I suppose he could keep his setup and cut the spin action down 5-10% but that's fine for exhibitions but would drop him out of the top 10 or 20... Realistically, the best option may be to take enough time to heal and use physio to support those muscles.

[@viktorbenedek868]

Aero 98 is more arm friendly than for example Yonex Percept 100D which I wanted to like but had to sell, because of elbow pain. I never had elbow pain from my Aero98 with HyperG at about 23/22 kg. Interestingly it is a friendly racquet.

[@amsd1231]

I really think Alcaraz will do very well with vcore 95.

[@weiranjiang2874]

I’ve said this several times: Alcaraz needs weight on his Aero 98. He needs extra weight to help him stable his rackets. Right now with his nearly stock weight 305g Aero 98, he’s pretty much using all his arm.

[@derekpappas1556]

I have 2 questions that a bit off topic . The balls used in Madrid and in Rome are dunlop fort clay balls . If you had to pick the best performace balls on clay , between Dunlop fort clay , Wilson Roland Garros and Babolat all court gold balls which would come our on top ? These balls would be used on the harder clay / hartrue courts in the U.S and clay hard overseas since there are more of these than deep red French clay . The Babolat balls were used previously at roland garros and I saw a can of Dunlop balls for roland garros that would have been before Babolat . The last question is about all 3 brands of sweedish tennis balls , that were previously reviewed . What is the optimal temperature range for the use of these balls ? They are sweedish and it was discussed that they fit the cooler Temps of the region . I would not think that these are designed for higher altitudes , since your not in the mountains and sweeten is generally at sea level in the Baltic. Thank You .

[@truten34]

Hey Jonas, your analysis on Alcaraz racket is great I think... I used to play with Babolat Pure Aero 2019 version (300g, 100 inch), as I progressed my level and started playing better, serving faster - I started to get arm and elbow issues. I think this has to do with what you're saying, these Aero rackets are very stiff and combine it with lower weight, seems like that must be why Carlos is having arm problems. I have recently switched to Yonex Vcore 98, 305g (the newest version) and all my arm problems have gradually gone away... Obviously that might be too extreme for Alcaraz to change brands/different rackets but I think he has to tweak something with his current setup like you say.

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Alcaraz somehow needs to get a heavier racket and more flexible and stay healthy…and I had such a pleasure meeting and talking with Dennis yesterday (I’ll see him today again) and he watched me hit for a while too…today I’ll meet with Thomas Bishof and if he sees me hit my forehand, then he’ll sponsor me! I’m a HEAD fanatic and I can clearly say that I had serous tennis elbow when I returned to tennis about 2 years ago and it was because I played with a stiff Babolat pure drive --when I got my Head iprestige mids (2001) my arm started healing instantly. Tak tak for your video today - go Tsitsipas in Paris

[@topbanana3413]

5:00 definitely not a Blade.

[@petershort936]

Re: Schedule, isn't this quantifiable? Can't we compare number of matches played by players today vs those 10-15 years ago? Sinner, 2023: 64-15 Rublev, 2023: 56-26 Berdych, 2014: 55-22 Ferrer, 2010: 60-24 Gasquet, 2013: 50-23 Roddick, 2004: 74-18

[@Bakugo24]

does anyone play with strings for a long time? like months at a time? and if so which ones do you use?

[@James-qv1dr]

If you want to use the same strings for months they will have to be multifilament strings like Head velocity MLT. If you don't break strings quickly they will play the same until they break. If you do break strings quickly there aren't any strings that you should use for months.

[@chocolatemafia64]

Madison went from an H19 to an H22 alongside the string switch

[@vanodne]

Yeah, but she hasn't won two majors and a handful of masters with her old setup

[@bruno_mart]

Jonas don’t forget your sunscreen. On leather grips - I have a sensitive elbow and shoulder, and have always steered clear from them. Too much vibrations

[@m3m3raider15]

What’s that racket he is stringing

[@VictorThulin]

Prince Phantom

[@wadecarroll3572]

I agree I really dont like these 2 week master events I always end up losing interest

[@euLIRIC]

Somebody get my boy Alcaraz a ProKennex racket before he busts his forearm

[@Robust2013]

Alcaraz needs a Phantom 100X 😂

[@Anton.Arkhipov]

Time to grow up and use manly 360g, 340+ SW racquet! Like Blade 98 or maybe Strike 97 will do if staying with Babolat…

[@outcometechnology]

@@Anton.Arkhipov And change more or less the entire set of physics underpinning all of his stroke mechanics? No. That's likely not the answer, at least not in the short term. For the the time being, I think more graduated measures are in order, namely string adjustments and frame tweaks by Babolat, who I am sure are as highly motivated as anyone to get him a setup that works. All of that said, you're not wrong in suggesting a higher spec -- namely more recoil weight. But at this juncture, it's easier said than done, considering the spec and corresponding physical mechanics that underpin his game. If he were to pivot to a heavier-spec'd Blade 98 or Strike 97, one of those could very well relieve him of pain, sure, but they could also downplay his mechanics and play style to the point where he's unable to regain the same playing level. And yes, if given no other choice, I suppose it's better than nothing, but the type of racquet in question is a huge deal these days, and there has to be a better solution, that's perhaps closer to what he's used to -- maybe a VCore 98/Tour, SX 300 Tour, etc.

[@Anton.Arkhipov]

@@outcometechnology Yeah, agree, I was throwing something in mostly. Babolat to tweak with PA 98 to make yoke and handle more muted, vibration-filtering, and some gradual build-up in SW+TW (Djokovic/Sinner style lead tape, haha) might be easier to adapt. Regarding dropping out of 100, for 6-12 months he could be loosing more than expected, but with his talent he’ll be back to top 10 with anything decent, if he stays healthy. And from there anyone can go for GS wins.

[@MrEkin03]

Let me tell you this. If Rafa somehow makes to the RG finals/semis (healthy) I don’t see him losing against anybody other than Novak, sinner and maybe Alcaraz.

[@oakmountaingod]

first?

[@Tennisnerd]

Yes!

[@oakmountaingod]

see, mom? I CAN do it!