Babolat, the oldest tennis brand in the world, has formed a partnership with Court 16, a unique tennis concept in New York City, to establish a pioneering gear lab specifically tailored for children. This collaboration has resulted in the development of innovative products aimed at facilitating the entry of young players into the sport.
Eric Babolat, CEO of Babolat, describes the Babolat Kids Lab as a hub of genuine innovation, dedicated to observing players and the game while providing the next generation of players with the most cutting-edge experience and equipment to advance in the sport. He highlights the significance of assisting children in discovering and learning tennis in a more enjoyable and accessible manner.
The lab located at Court 16 has played a pivotal role in the design of Babolat’s Ballfighters and B-Fly racket ranges, culminating in the creation of 10 rackets specifically tailored for children. Rather than simply scaling down adult rackets, Babolat collaborated with a team of experts to create rackets with smaller grip sizes, lighter weights, open string patterns, and other features to cater to the needs of young players.
Additionally, this partnership has resulted in the development of a limited-edition Court 16 kids frame, which has garnered widespread popularity and inspired an entire product range with dedicated apparel that will be available worldwide next year.
Anthony Evrard, CEO of Court 16, has expressed his longstanding connection with Babolat, dating back to the early 1960s when his family operated a tennis shop in Belgium. This rekindled connection has led to Court 16 becoming the exclusive club that Babolat invests in worldwide.
Court 16 aims to offer a welcoming experience for new players, targeting children and beginners with smaller courts and low-compression tennis balls. The club’s approach revolves around making tennis more enjoyable, recreational, and consumer-friendly, particularly for adults who may not resonate with traditional tennis programs.
Eric Babolat underscores the importance of making tennis more accessible, emphasizing the strategic insights gained from the partnership and the unique testing ground for new products and prototypes.
As a result of the collaboration, the rackets designed for children are now lighter and more powerful, significantly impacting the way young players engage with the sport. Court 16 continues to expand, with locations in Manhattan’s Financial District, downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City, with plans to further extend its reach in the future.
This partnership also grants Babolat a home base in New York, where they can organize events for the sport’s notable figures, including Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Leylah Fernandez, offering children the opportunity to participate.
Ultimately, the collaboration between Babolat and Court 16 transcends mere financial investment. It signifies a strategic partnership aimed at shaping the future of tennis by supporting players of all ages and consolidating Babolat’s role as a driving force in the sport’s evolution.