Babolat Marks 150 Years with “Perfect Match” Book
Babolat, the French brand that pioneered tennis strings, just recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and with that, the release of “Perfect Match,” a new book published by Éditions de La Martinière. The book chronicles Babolat’s journey from its 1875 origins to a global leader in tennis, padel, badminton and pickleball equipment, launched ahead of Wimbledon to honor its enduring impact.
Founded in 1875 by Pierre Babolat in Lyon, the company invented natural gut strings, introducing the iconic VS string in 1925, used by the French “Musketeers” like René Lacoste to win Grand Slams. Written by Catalan journalist Charles Caban with forewords by Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal, “Perfect Match” details milestones like the 1955 synthetic string, the 1994 Pure Drive racket that fueled Carlos Moya’s 1998 Roland Garros title, and the 2003 Aero frame, wielded by Nadal for 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. It also covers Babolat’s expansion into badminton (1995), padel (2001), and pickleball (2020), plus its Wimbledon partnership since 2014.
Writing History Together.
— Babolat (@babolat) June 27, 2025
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Babolat, we gathered together members of the Babolat Family, including pro players, collaborators and stringers.
On that occasion, we were honored by the presence of the Chair of the AELTC, Deborah Jevans CBE. pic.twitter.com/r8ceLiQjlO
“We are celebrating 150 years of youth, passion, and innovation,” said CEO Éric Babolat, highlighting the family-run company’s bond with players like Nadal, signed at age 9, and Carlos Alcaraz, World No. 1 at 19 in 2022. With 445 employees, €197.3 million in 2023 revenue and a presence in 20,000 clubs across 150 countries, Babolat’s legacy includes ambassadors like Suzanne Lenglen and Juan Lebron. The book features vivid photos and stories, from Borg’s 11 slams to Alcaraz’s Wimbledon titles.
“Perfect Match” is a concise tribute to Babolat’s role in tennis history. The Pure Drive and Nadal’s Roland Garros reign are some highlights, while padel and pickleball get less focus. It’s a must for gear enthusiasts and a fitting nod to 150 years of innovation.
“Perfect Match” is available now at Amazon and select retailers.
