Another milestone, and an important one at that. Babolat’s longevity and its ever-growing presence in the world of racquet sports are a tremendous acknowledgment of its expertise, skill, and constant ability to innovate. That’s why this 150th anniversary is both symbolic and fundamental for Éric Babolat: “We are celebrating 150 years of youth, passion, and innovation. Youth is about being curious, carefree, daring, and sharing that enthusiasm. Passion is the love of the game and its players, with whom we’ve created a bond that often transcends professional boundaries. And at Babolat, innovation never stops. Whether you are a player, coach, trainer, collaborator, stringer, store seller, or an industrial or brand partner of Babolat, we all share the drive to make the hearts of tennis, padel, badminton, and pickleball lovers beat faster. In 2025, these 150 years will be celebrated on courts, in clubs, at tournaments—whether amateur or legendary—and also in stores. Sharing is part of the Babolat family DNA, passed down through five generations. We are one of the few independent companies in this field, a uniqueness that strengthens our identity.”
Babolat: 150 years of youth, passion, and innovation making the hearts of racquet lovers worldwide beat faster
A BIT OF HISTORY
Founded in 1875, Babolat revolutionized tennis history by inventing natural gut strings and continues to be a pioneer in tennis, padel, badminton, and pickleball equipment. Racquets, shoes, strings, bags—Babolat’s ongoing innovations allow players of all levels to combine pleasure and performance. This century-and-a-half adventure, carried by prestigious ambassadors like Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Lebron, Suzanne Lenglen, and Li Na, is marked by a passionate relationship with players. This close connection is one of the foundations of Babolat, which nurtures its disruptive identity and perpetual desire to move the sport forward. The future belongs to it.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AT THE HEART OF EVERYDAY LIFE
In 1875, Pierre Babolat made gut strings for sausage casings, surgery, and music. When approached by an Englishman, he created the first natural gut tennis string, which became the iconic VS in 1925, used by the famous "Musketeers" (René Lacoste, Henri Cochet, Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon). This string helped win more than 150 Grand Slam titles, including 11 by Bjorn Borg. This spirit of innovation has been continually nurtured through key milestones that have built Babolat’s reputation. The first synthetic string in 1955, propelling the brand to global leadership in this area, is part of that legacy. The launch of the first tennis frames in 1994, including the iconic Pure Drive, marked another crucial moment.
The first badminton racquets were launched in 1995, followed by Éric Babolat taking the helm of the company in 1998—one significant milestone after another. In 2001, Babolat introduced its first padel racquet and tennis balls, and in 2003, the Aero tennis frame (as in aerodynamic), which Rafael Nadal immortalized with 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 on Paris clay courts. In 2012, the tennis string RPM Blast was launched, followed by the Pure Strike tennis racquet range in 2014, the same year Babolat became the official partner of Wimbledon (racquets, shoes, accessories, bags). After unveiling its first pickleball racquet in 2020, Babolat introduced its first women’s padel collection in 2023. This is just a partial list, with more innovations to come.
PASSION AND PEOPLE AT THE CORE OF ITS VALUES
The Babolat journey has been enhanced by numerous prestigious ambassadors such as Carlos Moya, who won the first of 41 major titles with a Babolat racquet in Paris in 1998. Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Lebron in padel, and Niels Vink in wheelchair tennis have carried the torch. Enduring trust and performance go hand in hand with the bond created with players, shared passion, and ongoing collaboration. Rafael Nadal joined Babolat at the age of 9: “I feel close to Babolat because it’s a family business. Today, the fifth generation is in charge. For me, that matters.” Carlos Alcaraz was barely 10 when he began his partnership with the brand. In September 2022, at just 19 years and four months, he became the youngest player in history to reach the world number one ranking. These are just two long-standing stories among many others (Dominic Thiem, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Li Na, Francesca Schiavone...) that go far beyond the realm of sport.
A FRENCH SUCCESS STORY ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
While the future belongs to Babolat, its existing legacy is the result of a considerable collective effort. Today, Babolat employs 445 people, including 279 in France across three production sites (Lyon/Corbas, Besançon, Bretagne). Beyond its headquarters in France, Babolat has 9 subsidiaries (USA, Japan, Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and China), operates in 150 countries, has partnerships with 20,000 clubs, and is present in 20,000 stores.
With a revenue of €197.3M in 2023, 75% of which comes from tennis and 54% from the European market, Babolat is especially rich in experience, partnerships, close relationships with champions, and the trust of its collaborators (Michelin, Wimbledon, Rafa Nadal Academy, Club Med, Human Fab, All In Group). Above all, it continues to bring joy to players around the world every day, something that is truly priceless.
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