Rafael Nadal has switched to a heavier racquet in order to add more speed to his serve. It appears that the Spaniard is still playing with the Babolat AeroPro Drive, which he used all of last season. Some other top players in the past have added weight to their racquets as they grew older and stronger.
"I had to make the change even if I am not better in the beginning," Nadal told reporters. "We had to make the decision so that it will be better in the future. Probably that hurts my game a little bit to begin with. Is that a risk at the beginning of the season—yes. But it was still the right moment, to change. If not now, then when?"