What racket does Stefanos Tsitsipas use?

James Richardson 30 Jul 2023 9:57 AM

Stefanos Tsitsipas in action

Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of the many top players who are on Team Wilson when it comes to his rackets.

Tsitsipas officially endorses the Wilson Blade 98 v8 however he still favours the older v4 of the illustrious Blade range.

We don’t have to speculate, spy or pour over video evidence to discover what strings Tsitsipas uses as he revealed on Twitter that his racket is strung with Luxilon 4G at 25 kg mains and 24 kg crosses.

Tsitsipas has long favoured the Blade frame and reportedly sent back a set of rackets sent to him when Wilson tried to shift him to a different racket, and he has since shifted to using custom pro stock.

With sellers who claim to sell rackets at the exact specifications that Stefanos Tsitsipas setting them up with strung mass at 335g and strung balance at 32.7cm.

It is not recommended that casual players play with a racket set up like this given the increased risk of injury brought on by heavy swing weight.

Notably these specifications have caused fierce debate and their veracity has been questioned by stringers and other commentators.

It is believed that this slightly unusual setup is the reason Tsitsipas can both generate the power he needs but also maintain terrific control and hit with topspin.

However, the setup is critical to the game of Tsitsipas who relies heavily on his shotmaking ability.

He is primarily known for striking a great forehand and has revealed the secret to a superb strike.

“My grip is quite “flat”, as we say in tennis, but I am still able to generate power and topspin while maintaining control,” Tsitsipas said.

“During rallies, I generally stick to my preferred grip, but minor adjustments can be made depending on the situation and the type of shot I want to execute.”

Tsitsipas can’t really unlock exactly how to to strike the perfect forehand as he feels it is a matter of flow.

“I have to be honest, it is not something I deliberately think about,” Tsitsipas added.

“My goal is to have a good contact point and, throughout the years of practice, I have developed such a strong and as you say “elegant” forehand which I am humbled by.

“For me, the perfect forehand shot combines power, accuracy, and spin, involving good footwork, positioning, and timing.

“My favourite forehand is the inside-out forehand, which I follow up at the net, searching for the volley depending on the situation.”