1994

While Babolat had spent decades manufacturing strings and accessories, the company innovated in the traditional field of square-section rackets by developing an elliptical section, the emblematic feature of the powerful Pure Drive.

1997

The Pure Drive was renewed in 1997. The following year, it made its mark at the 1998 French Open tennis tournament, where Carlos Moya won. This victory marked the start of an impressive series of successes on the courts. Pure Drive quickly became the tennis choice for many top players.

1999

With the introduction of the Woofer system, Babolat introduced a major innovation. This plastic part creates a piston effect on the string, offering a trampoline effect that makes the frame and string interactive when the ball is hit. The impact of this technology is undeniable, as witnessed by Nicolas Escudé's victory in the Davis Cup in 2001. On the Australian grass, against Leyton Hewitt, the world number 1 at the time, Escudé won with the French team, demonstrating the power and efficiency of the Pure Drive equipped with this new Woofer system.

2002

Andy Roddick won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2003 with this model of racket. The following year, he set a serve speed record of 249 km/h, making it one of the five fastest serves ever recorded in the history of tennis. Meanwhile, Kim Clijsters triumphed at the US Open the following year.

2006

The Cortex system is revolutionising the world of tennis by intervening between the handle and the heart of the racket. This active technological advance reduces vibrations, leaving only the vibration modes that are essential for an optimal feel for the ball.

2009

With this model of racket, Kim Clijsters wrote her name into the history of the US Open by winning the 2009 and 2010 editions, as well as the Australian Open in 2011. At the same time, Li Na wrote her own piece of history by becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam tournament at the 2011 French Open, in front of a worldwide audience of over 400 million viewers, equipped with her trusty Pure Drive.

2012

An improved version of the Cortex System is introduced to further enhance vibration filtration. The racquet also gets a new look, with a glossy black base and grey/blue aluminium details. Garbiñe Muguruza began her tennis career with this model. Meanwhile, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Julien Benneteau won the doubles title at the 2014 French Open, each with a Pure Drive in their hands, demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of this iconic racquet.

2014 PLAY

A pioneer in its field, this racquet represents the very essence of Babolat innovation. It remains the world's very first connected racquet, marking a major turning point in the history of tennis. It is now possible to measure data such as the number of forehands, backhands, ball rotation and even the centring zone of shots. All this information can be accessed directly via a dedicated application, giving players a valuable tool for improving their performance on court.

2015

Based on an analysis of the data collected from the previous model, Babolat decided to improve the design of the 2015 racket. This includes a new drilling pattern, specially designed to adapt to players' hitting zones. The impact of this update was quickly demonstrated on court, notably when Garbiñe Muguruza won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in 2016, equipped with this racquet.

2018

Two major advances mark a new era in the world of tennis: the integration of the Cortex Inside into the handle and the adoption of SMAC technology, derived from aerospace, to filter vibrations at the heart of the racket. These innovations underline Babolat's ongoing commitment to optimum performance on the court. And the results of top players prove it, such as Fabio Fognini who will win the prestigious Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 in 2019. Similarly, Sofia Kenin is making history by winning the 2020 Australian Open with a racquet in the colours of the American flag.

2021

The launch of the SMAC 2.0 and the dynamic design of the Pure Drive 2021 mark a new era in tennis. Garbiñe Muguruza will triumph at the year-end Masters in 2021 with this racquet. In January 2024, during a captivating Australian Open, Arthur Cazaux and Clara Burel emerged as the new talents of the Pure Drive generation.