2012, Babolat Invents the Tennis of the Future: Play & Connect

LYON, France, January 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

"Innovation is only valuable if it makes tennis progress to the greatest number of people. In 1875, Babolat invented the first strings for tennis racquets. More than 135 years of innovation and progress later, I am proud to present today our vision of the tennis of tomorrow, brought by our Play & Connect racquet."

- Eric Babolat, President and CEO

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20120113/504181 )

Babolat invents a new approach to tennis

As tennis is played today, outside of the match results, players have very little information for evaluating their performance. They lack data for analyzing their game, whether for studying their own progress or for comparing their performance to other players.

As a result of research conducted over the course of five years, Babolat has today developed the "Play & Connect" racquet which offers a new experience to players thanks to sensors integrated in the racquet that register the flow of data.

2012: the debut of a new era

Tennis lovers, novices, pro players and amateurs, whatever their level, will now have access to information about their game in order to better understand their game and to improve their performance on the court in an enjoyable way. With Play & Connect, it will now be possible, for the first time, to measure and challenge the performance between players of all levels including the professional players of Team Babolat.

Meet in May 2012 at Roland Garros for the first tests!

• First tests and presentation of the Babolat "Play & Connect" test model at the 2012 French Open
• From September 2012, 100 racquets will be tested in clubs and with coaches around the world
• Commercialization planned for 2013

About Babolat

Created in 1875, in Lyon, France, Babolat is the oldest international company specialized in tennis. Babolat is today number 1 in tennis racquet sales in the United States, France, Spain, Italy and in Japan.

Family-run for five generations, Babolat is an expert and innovative brand in the tennis sector providing complete technical equipment for tennis players: racquets, strings, shoes, bags, apparel, accessories and balls. The brand provides strings and racquets for numerous tennis players including Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Li Na and Andy Roddick (who also plays with Babolat shoes).

Website: http://www.babolat.com/ / http://www.Facebook.com/Babolat

Press Contacts: Agence KETCHUM PLEON

Shirley Ribeiro, Patricia Attar & Laure de Chastellux
Shirley.ribeiro@ketchumpleon.fr - +33-(0)1-53-32-55-81
patricia.attar@ketchumpleon.fr - +33-(0)1-53-32-55-90
laure.dechastellux@ketchumpleon.fr - +33-(0)1-53-32-55-78