Contemporary greatness is a rare thing. In the tennis universe it is synonymous with the impressive athletic and human talent of Carlos Alcaraz. We portrayed the intense mindset, as well as the fresh energy of the youngest tennis player in history to reach the top of the ATP rankings, along with the inspired lens of Charlie Coleman.

We captured the current world #2 during Wimbledon, thanks to Babolat. Alcaraz has been connected to the historic French brand, founded at Lyon back in 1875, since he was 10 years old. He recently renewed this significant partnership until 2030. Charlie Coleman’s visions allow us both to study the most modern of Babolat’s legendary ambassadors (René Lacoste, Suzanne Lenglen and Björn Borg are just a few of his illustrious predecessors), and to hear the testimony of Marion Cornu, Global Tennis Business Leader of the company that, almost 150 years ago, invented racket strings, and has not stopped innovating its impact on tennis since.

Heritage and Legacy. Past, present and future. Carlos Alcaraz’s destiny lies in his racquet and his contemporary greatness, and it is reflected in Babolat’s philosophy. Let’s find out how.

In the past Babolat has helped the feats of legends such as René Lacoste, Suzanne Lenglen and Björn Borg. Today, Carlos Alcaraz is trying to follow in their footsteps in tennis myth-making. What does such a rich heritage mean for the brand? And what are the parameters that you use for choosing those who transpose Babolat’s winning legacy into the present (and the future)?

“Babolat’s rich heritage, spanning nearly 150 years, is deeply tied to the success of tennis legends like René Lacoste, Björn Borg, and Suzanne Lenglen. This legacy of partnering with champions not only highlights the brand’s commitment to excellence but also reflects its ability to consistently provide the highest-quality equipment that helps players reach their peak performance. Today, Carlos Alcaraz is a continuation of this tradition, embodying the energy, passion, and joy of the sport. As our “Smile” ambassador, he perfectly reflects Babolat’s philosophy of embracing challenges and inspiring future generations.”

“When selecting players to carry Babolat’s legacy forward, we focus on more than just talent. Proximity is key—we work closely with young players, clubs, and coaches around the world, fostering a deep connection with the sport at every level. With a network of 20,000 clubs and shops globally, our scouting process is grounded in identifying players who not only excel on the court but also embody the spirit of joy, challenge, and innovation that defines Babolat. For us, when Babolat champions wins, the entire Babolat team wins with them. This shared success is what drives our passion and commitment to the future of tennis.”

How much do Alcaraz’s opinion, advice and feedback impact the development of your products? And how do you combine the feelings of a top-level athlete with the scientific datas and infos processed by your labs?

“Carlos Alcaraz’s opinion, advice, and feedback play a critical role in the development of our products, just as they do for all the athletes we work with. His on-court experience provides us with invaluable insights, which we combine with the expertise of our entire team of engineers, R&D specialists, and product designers. From the performance of our racquets to their cosmetics, every detail is carefully considered.”

“We don’t rely solely on the input of top-level athletes; we also integrate rigorous scientific data from our labs and conduct extensive play tests in real conditions. This balance between the feelings of athletes like Carlos and the precision of scientific data ensures that we create products tailored to their needs, adaptable to different surfaces, and capable of performing under varying weather conditions. It’s this ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and feedback that allows us to keep evolving and staying at the forefront of tennis technology.”

What does greatness mean for Babolat?

“The love for challenge, the fight, the respect, the dedication. Dream, work hard, fall, succeed, and have fun – all the emotions of sport are in our DNA – This is our greatness.”