Novak Djokovic helped lead Serbia to its first Davis Cup title last month and celebrated with a buzz cut, leaving the world No. 3 a little light-headed. But a streamlined scalp isn’t the only difference you’ll see in him at next week’s Australian Open. Djokovic will take the court armed with some new gear: a Monster on his shoulder and Head Speed in his hand.
Djokovic will play with the new Head YouTek IG Speed 18 x 20 frame and tote it in the autographed Djokovic Monstercombi Head bag. Both the frame and bag will be available in retail stores starting next week; the MSRP for the 100-square inch head frame is $225.
The striking black, white and copper-colored frame incorporates innegra, a tough, light, high-performance fiber installed primarily in its hoop, to increase stability and decrease shock. Head claims that “racquet vibration from ball impact is reduced up to 17 percent.” Innegra is also used in Formula I cars and surfboards. Combined with d3o, a “smart material” in the shaft malleable enough to provide necessary stiffness or absorption depending on the shot, Head believes the frame has all-court acumen.
“It’s a maneuverable stick with good balance that’s easy to use from everywhere on the court,” says TENNIS racquet adviser Bruce Levine. “It’s a frame that requires a little bit more of a longer swing to get the most out of it, but if you have game, this frame is a good step forward for this family of racquets.”
The Serbian showman says the new frame fulfills his need for speed.
“Speed is part of my character and part of my tennis style on the court,” Djokovic says. “I like moving very fast on the court and being aggressive and the racquet helps me with that a lot. I like the combination of control and speed. The racquet has to be part of you so you have to be as one and work as one and this is the only way it’s going to work well.”
This marks the second time in the last three years Djokovic starts a new year with new gear. The 2008 Australian Open champion made the switch from Wilson to Head at the start of the 2009 season and was candid in acknowledging his early adjustment struggles with the new stick. This time around, racquet experts expect Djokovic’s transition to be much smoother, given the fact he’s played with Head for two seasons and has returned to a major final with one in hand.
“I think spec-wise you are looking at virtually the same frame Djokovic has used in the past, so there should not be any major adjustment period for him,” says Sol Schwartz, Holabird Sports’ retail manager. “Clearly, there is a cosmetic change, and what you are getting out of this frame is the use of new materials: innegra and d3o, which is designed for vibration dampening. The frame is designed to be more responsive and provide players more comfort.”
Levine agrees. “The frame Novak is using probably didn’t change much—it is probably a cosmetic change, but there is probably a little bit more stability than the prior frame. The consumer should really understand that frames built for players at that level generally won’t change drastically, because players at that level aren’t looking for big changes in their frames—especially Djokovic, who just got to the U.S. Open final and helped win the Davis Cup. So the change is designed to help the consumer.”
The autographed Djokovic Monstercombi bag features an extra-large main compartment, a large racquet compartment with Head’s Climate Control Technology, which protects the frames without racquet covers, accessory pockets and side panels. Head says all of its 2011 bags will be PVC-free, which makes them more environmentally friendly.
Djokovic’s results will likely have an immediate impact on how the 11.1 ounce (unstrung) frame performs in retail stores.
“Good results are the best advertisement anyone can get for a new frame,” Schwartz says. “Every company is dying for a player using a new frame to get to a final because that’s an endorsement for the racquet.”
Three of the YouTek IG Speed models will hit stores next week (YouTek IG Speed MP 16/19, YouTek IG Speed MP 18/20 and YouTek IG Speed Lite). The other two models will be available in early March (YouTek IG Speed 300 and YouTek IG Speed Elite).