Where would he go from the Blade?
The shortest leap for Tsitsipas would be to another Wilson frame. He’s been with the company for his entire pro career and they would have the most insights into his current equipment. There are other options in the brand’s lineup that could certainly aid in his pursuit for easier and more effective aggression. One such possibility is the Shift, which Wilson specifically developed to be powerful and spin-friendly. It has a slightly bigger head size than a Blade, and one of the models does have a 16×20 string pattern. Yet, when compared to Tsitsipas’ demo, the Shift doesn’t appear to pass the eyeball test.
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Another possibility could be something out of the new RF Collection. Designed in collaboration with Roger Federer, the racquets were also created to have more modern aerodynamics and spin-potential. There currently is no model in the franchise with a 16×20 string pattern, but it’s common for pros use customized molds that differ from the in-store lineup. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a proven tour commodity promoting the inaugural edition. However, like the Shift, it doesn’t seem to be an exact match.
Is there anything to the “W” stenciled on his strings?
Perhaps. It could be that the brand has Tsitsipas experimenting with a new, undisclosed prototype. Although with both the Shift and RF franchise still in their first generations, it would most likely be an addition to an existing line.
It is somewhat telling, though, that the butt cap and strings on the frame appear to be both blacked-out as well. There’s no “W” on the trap door and the strings don’t have 4G coloring. If true, that would be an indication that it’s probably not Wilson equipment. In which case, this could be a situation where Tsitsipas is still contractually obligated to have the “W” appear on his strings. There are previous examples of players using a blacked-out frame of one company with the stencil of another until they can officially part ways.
