TEAM BABOLAT PRO PLAYERS MAY PLAY WITH A CUSTOMIZED OR DIFFERENT MODEL THAN THE EQUIPMENT DEPICTED.

PRESS RELEASE

Rafa Nadal (SPA)

New Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive racket
Babolat RPM Blast string

January 2015

BABOLAT EXPANDS CONNECTED TENNIS EXPERIENCE

WITH TOP PLAYER ENDORSEMENTS AND NEW BABOLAT PLAY MODELS :

RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS CONNECTED IN 2015

WITH NEW BABOLAT PLAY AEROPRO DRIVE RACKET
Babolat, tennis specialist brand, reaffirms its leadership in innovation with a successful
approach based on player observation and the capacity to anticipate players
needs. For 140 years, Babolat has helped evolve the sport of tennis from the invention
of racket strings to the worlds first connected tennis racket, Babolat PLAY.

Babolat PLAY is a breakthrough innovation changing the course of tennis history :

its the first racket that you switch ON and OFF. Babolat developed the Babolat PLAY
connected racket allowing every player to live a unique experience based on progression,
fun and sharing.
Now, the first brand to bring players a connected tennis
experience is the first to allow tennis lovers of all levels
to compare their game to the top players in the world.
Rafael Nadal has a new move in tennis
- turning his racket ON; Switches to new
Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive
babol.at/TheNewMove
In 2015, Rafael Nadal becomes a connected player and adopts a new move in tennis :
turning his Babolat Play Aeropro Drive on. Nadal is the first top player ever to believe
in connected tennis and its benefits for improving performance and learning more about
his own game.
With his new Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive, Nadal joins the worldwide Babolat PLAY
community, a unique universe where all PLAY-ers can experience the fun and competition
of sharing, comparing and improving their game thanks to the information provided
by Babolat PLAY.
Now, Im going to play connected with the new Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive racket. It feels
exactly like my usual racket, but Toni and I will have access to a lot of information about my game,
like the impact zone of the ball. Its going to be very helpful for all players says Rafael Nadal.

Competition helps drive and motivate players. Before connected tennis, the way to
compare to other players was to play against them. Now with Babolat PLAY, players
can compare and compete against others (friends, competitors, favorite top players like
Rafael Nadal). Babolat is the first and only brand to make a top players data available
to allow tennis fans to see how they measure up against the pros, creating an exciting
new form of competition.

Babolat PLAY is helping to reenergize the game, and altering the way people play it
says Eric Babolat, Chairman and CEO of the eponymous company. Our vision is to make
connected tennis interesting for all tennis lovers, from recreational players to the best players
in the world. With Rafas support of the new Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive I believe our vision
is right on track.

BABOLAT PLAY, THE FIRST CONNECTED TENNIS RACKET

Babolat PLAY is for all tennis players, whatever their level. Sensors integrated
into the handle of the Babolat PLAY racket allow players to have access to information
about their game.
Babolat Play collects exciting data like shot power and ball impact location along with number
of strokes (forehand, backhand, serve, smash), spin, total and effective play time, endurance,
technique, consistency, energy and rallies.
When the player has finished playing, information is transmitted through a Bluetooth
connection with a smartphone or from a USB to a computer, and is viewable
on any type of device (including tablets). Players will be able to share information
with the Babolat PLAY community through a dedicated platform at Babolatplay.com and
on a Babolat PLAY App.

BABOLAT PLAY, AN APPROVED RACKET FOR COMPETITION

On January 1, 2014, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) adopted a new rule, Rule 31,
permitting the use of player-analysis technology during competition, with prior approval
by the ITF. Tennis players worldwide, whether at regional, national or international level,
are able to play connected games with the Babolat Play rackets.

Team Babolat players (ATP/WTA) who have adopted Babolat PLAY :

NEW Babolat PLAY Aeropro Drive

Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Monica Puig (PUR)
Dinah Pfizenmaier (GER)

Babolat PLAY Pure Drive

Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

Julia Grges (GER)
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)

Kim Clijsters (BEL Ambassador)

Carlos Moya (ESP Ambassador)
Ana Konjuh (CRO)
Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Marc Polmans (AUS)
An-Sophie Mestach (BEL)
Romina Oprandi (SUI)
Taro Daniel (JPN)
Ons Jabeur (TUN)

BABOLAT PLAY BY THE NUMBERS

 ept 21, 2014 : 1st official victory at the WTA International Korea Open
S
(K.Pliskova - CZE)
More than 30 million shots recorded*
90,000 hours of play*
30,000 matches*
*(Dec. 2014)

NEW BABOLAT PLAY AEROPRO DRIVE

Headsize

645 cm

Weight

300 g

Grip Size

1-5

MRSP

$ 349

In store

January 15, 2015

Store locator and info : www.babolat.com / www.babolatplay.com

Media contact : Annie Coghill
annie@ameliecompany.com / 303.832.2700 ext. 202
About Babolat : Created in 1875, in Lyon, France, Babolat is the longest-running international company specialized in tennis. Today,
Babolat is number 1* in tennis racket sales in the United States, Japan and Europe. Family-run for five generations, Babolat is an innovative
brand in the tennis sector providing complete equipment for tennis players: rackets, strings, shoes, balls, bags, apparel and accessories.
Babolat equips numerous tennis players with rackets and strings including Rafael Nadal (SPA), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), Sam Stosur (AUS),
Agnieska Radwanska (POL), Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) and Caroline Wozniacki (DEN). www.babolat.com
-
www.Facebook.com/Babolat
* (Sources: number 1 in sales in US specialty stores, TIA/SMS, September 30, 2014 / Japan: Yano Research Institute, May 30, 2014/ Europe: SMS, June 30, 2014)