Novak Djokovic's racket sponsor, HEAD Tennis, is set to honor the Serbian superstar with a new release of his signature racket that he will use for the remainder of his career.
Djokovic is one of the most decorated champions in the history of professional tennis. He has won 98 career titles, 24 of which were at the Grand Slam level—the most by an ATP player.
This season, he became the first player, male or female, to surpass the 400-week mark as World No. 1. In addition to winning the most Masters titles with 40, Djokovic also holds the records for the most finals and semifinals in that tournament level.
However, all these accomplishments would not have been possible without the American tennis racket brand HEAD supplying him with the best racket. The company prides itself on providing him with "a racket to conquer the world" when he signed a lucrative professional contract with them in 2009.
Djokovic has endorsed the SPEED racket series for the last 15 years, which is tailor-made to marry power and control on the court, making Djokovic a great defender and an exceptional offensive shotmaker.
To celebrate the 36-year-old's 24 major titles, a new release called the "Speed Legend," an all-black colorway racket, will be Djokovic's signature frame for the rest of his career. He has already tested this racket while competing at his most recent tournament, the Italian Open.
Djokovic worked closely with Max Bauer, the global product manager of performance rackets at HEAD, from the planning stage to execution. The Serbian reportedly prefers the glossy dark colorway, an idea he pitched to Bauer.
"It is always special to create such a special racket and this one specifically stands out because it combines many features that Novak loves. The naming of the racket also celebrates Novak’s unique status in the tennis world."