News

Boulder, Colorado — Babolat, leading manufacturer of tennis equipment, kicked off the US Open yesterday in New York City with Andy Roddick for the culmination of Babolat’s “Put Yourself in Roddick’s Shoes.” CityView Racquet Club played host to the event emcee’d by Larry Stefanki, Andy Roddick’s coach.

Earlier this year, Babolat launched “Put Yourself in Roddick’s Shoes” to give tennis fans an opportunity to win great prizes, receive added value on Babolat purchases, such as footwear, tennis racquets and bags, and support the Andy Roddick Foundation at the same time. A portion of proceeds from the promotion went to the Andy Roddick Foundation and Eric Babolat, president and CEO of Babolat, presented Andy Roddick with that donation. The nationwide “Put Yourself in Roddick’s Shoes” contest winner, a 13-year-old boy from the New York City area, received the grand prize — the chance to hit on court with Andy Roddick himself.

“It means a lot that Babolat supports my foundation efforts, it’s something that I am very passionate about,” says Andy Roddick, #9 ATP. “Babolat and I have had a great relationship throughout my career — I trust the company and its products.”

Andy Roddick has been a member of the Babolat family since his days as a junior player. He started playing with the emblematic Babolat Pure Drive racquet and Babolat strings in 1999. His Babolat racquet and strings were with him during career highlights as World #1, winning the US Open in 2003 and played a role in his world-record-holding fastest serve.

“Supporting Andy on and off the courts is important for us — I am happy to present this donation to his foundation,” says Eric Babolat, president and CEO of Babolat. “We wish Andy the best of luck in the 2010 US Open and look forward to teaming up together in the future.”

Andy Roddick’s Equipment

The 2010 US Open starts Monday, August 30 — Babolat wishes Andy Roddick and all the members of Team Babolat good luck!

ABOUT BABOLAT

Founded in Lyon, France, in 1875, Babolat is the first company to have specialized in racquet sports and the world leader in the production of natural gut strings. Easily recognized by its trademark “double-line” (two stripes on the racquet frame and black on the stringing bed), Babolat is still family-owned. Today, with U.S. operations in Boulder, Colorado, the company also manufactures synthetic strings, shoes, accessories and a best-selling line of racquets. Babolat equips 20% of the top 100 players in the ATP and WTA including Rafael Nadal (SPAIN, #1! ATP), Andy Roddick (USA, #9 ATP), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRANCE, #11 ATP), Caroline Wozniacki (DENMARK, #2 WTA), Kim Clijsters (BELGIUM, #3 WTA), Francesca Schiavone (ITALY, #7 WTA) and Samantha Stosur (AUSTRALIA, #6 WTA). To find out where Babolat products are sold, log on to www.babolat.com or call (877) 316-9435. Follow us on Facebook.com/babolat or Twitter.com/babolat.