What Racket Does Carlos Alcaraz Use?
The final lap for the 2025 US Open is right in front of us. After days of scintillating action on the court, only the final handful remain, hoping to go all the way. Among others, Carlos Alcaraz has many fans who are wishing to see him win his second title at Flushing Meadows.
The 22-year-old Spaniard will be facing Novak Djokovic in the semifinal. However, despite Alcaraz’s imminent clash against the storied veteran, there is no shortage of tennis connoisseurs picking the former over the Serbian star as their favorite. Many believe that Carlos’ beloved tennis racket is the secret to his incredible success. So, what is Carlos Alcaraz’s trusty sidekick?
Carlos Alcaraz’s racket model
The 2022 US Open winner uses Babolat Pure Aero 98, sponsored by the makers of the equipment since his early career days. While the model is generally marketed as Babolat Pure Aero 98, it is no secret that the racket particularly used by Alcaraz is customized as per his requirements by Babolat.
How is the Spaniard’s equipment different from its stock model? Let us break it down for you.
Specifications
True tennis fans know that pros seldom use run-of-the-mill rackets. Instead, almost all stars tweak their respective equipment to fit their unique needs, and Carlos Alcaraz isn’t any different.
Retail Babolat Pure Aero 98 comes with a 98 square inch head size, and is weighted roughly 305 g when unstrung. However, the racket that Alcaraz uses is about 330 g when strung. While the stock racket comes with a 315mm balance, the 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist’s racket comes with an adjusted balance measure, which makes it more head-light.
The grip is also custom-molded so that Alcaraz can have a strong command over the swing and dominate his opponents with greater ease.
Strings and tension
Alcaraz uses Babolat RPM Blast strings, made from polyester. However, the tension of his rackets varies, depending heavily on the surface he’s playing on. For clay courts, Carlos prefers to keep the strings looser, while for hard courts, he keeps them tighter. Alcaraz, who is known for his heavy spin and explosive baseline game, benefits significantly from the strings he uses on his racket.
Why the racket fits his game
For many fans, Carlos Alcaraz is the true successor to Rafael Nadal. Both Spanish stars display a playing style that can come off as distinctively similar. For someone who enjoys playing as aggressively as Carlos, the racket becomes a crucial accomplice in his exploits.
The open string pattern of his customized racket helps Alcaraz to utilize topspin like stealing candies from kids, while the stiffer frame offers greater power on flat forehands. His explosive speed on the court and drop shot game are only complemented by the racket’s lightweight maneuverability.
However, this wasn’t the racket that had been serving Alcaraz’s purpose from the very beginning. Instead, he found his true companion along the way. So, how did the change-up benefit his game?
Why is this racket special?
The decision to go from 305 g to 330 g has made Carlos Alcaraz more authoritative on the baseline, along with enhancing his plow-through. Alcaraz’s signature heavy topspin also gets its trademark thanks to the incredible combination of the Aero frame and the RPM Blast strings. The heavier swingweight, coupled with the head-heavy balance, adds to the jaw-dropping power of Alcaraz’s shots. The racket almost makes Carlos’ playing a unique thing to watch, which many fans would vouch is nothing like how his peers handle business on the court.
