So we went down to Pedreguer, a small town outside Alicante, to get some serious tennis sessions in. We were five guys in the early and late forties. We got there in early June, just around the time when the weather really gets going, +30 degrees every day; the sky is all blue and the sun is burning down. We traveled from Gothenburg, Sweden, on Thursday morning, and had our first two-hour session later that afternoon at La Sella Tennis & Padel. The club has five clay courts, beautifully seated by the mountains foot; we lived just around the corner in a cheap Airbnb-apartment.
The next day we had four more hours of tennis, two during morning (with coaches), and two during late afternoon; the same on Saturday, and then two more hours on Sunday before the flight home. All in all, 12 hours packed into four days (including two travel days). So, a pretty heavy schedule. We’re decent tennis players, but amateurs, nerds, yeah I’m totally into everything about rackets and strings, lead, grams, grips, and what not. But these hours were carbon-focused, rather than testing rackets and strings, rather than slower technique-sessions. And during the late sessions we played singles matches. And then we had some super-sized meals and lots of beers.
So, how did we do? Did we survive these days of tennis fury? Well, we did – thanks to the bags of Maurten products we brought. Or that was the feeling. We had easy access because one of the guys worked at the company, the bars, the gels, the Drink Mix. Jeeze, no body-aches, no injuries, no sunstrokes, good recovery – what was this magic? I wondered. Pale Swedish guys mostly accustomed to indoor tennis, and no blazing sun, suddenly thriving in the heat.
This was 2025. And we did the same thing in 2026.
Maurten is one of these companies who’s recently getting involved in tennis. They specialize in fueling products for long distance sports (like marathon, triathlon, cycling), but as tennis more and more seems to develop into a stamina-based sport, with longer, more grueling rallies, slower conditions (balls, courts), crazy temperatures, an even more stacked schedule, etcetera, they have become more and more popular on the tour.
Right now, there’s a bunch of high-profile ATP players who use it, though often “under-the-table” because of pre-existing sponsor deals (like the blacked-out rackets when players are switching), and because of the pure tempo of this new interest. It’s moving fast, almost organically into the game. My source tells me especially about their relationship with Medvedev, but there is also Djokovic’s post on his Instagram of their Gel 100, and Cam Norrie craving one of those same gels during a critical changeover in his Masters 1000 win over Alcaraz in Paris 2025. For example.
What makes Maurten different?
Their secret recipe? Or what differentiates them from their competition? As I understand it, their hydrogel technology, which makes the carbohydrates easy to digest and highly potent. And there are no additives in the products, no colors, no flavors, no preservatives. The Gel 100 contains 25g of carbs straight up; the Drink Mix 320 contains 40g per 500ml water. And the bar (Solid 160) is oath- and rice-based and works for preloading or replenishing your levels of carbohydrates. Just super-fuel – perfect for the new tennis era.
Or?
I’m no expert on this. I have never been a nutrition-freak, or deep into this world of refined energizers. But my Alicante-experience really took me aback. How did my body hold up so well? And after reading up on this trend I found it super interesting, tennis as a new venue for these companies, seeing their opportunity when the sport more and more seems to morph into a sort of marathon- or endurance-competition, rather than an explosive and artistic game with variation (and one-handed backhands!). And with these new supplements for players to cope.
So on the tours, it’s becoming popular. But what about us mortals? I mean, these uppers work for the pros who’s trying to keep up with extreme conditions and deadly competition. But for you and me, the average tennis player, can we take advantage? Well, I’ve got them into my routine now – and been feeling a bit like The Demon himself on court, running down balls like crazy. And when the training session comes to an end, it’s been like: What? It can’t be? Too soon! Another forehand, please!
So, for sure. There is possibility.
And there might be another thing (for us racket nerds). I’ve been in the racket-jungle all summer long. Speed Tours, Extremes, Blades, Defyers … Been crazy. But as I’ve gotten back into these gels and bars and set my focus on my physical reaction to play rather than trying to find that perfect stick, my play has gone up. It has freed my mind. At least I think so. And I guess that’s a good thing.
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You can find Maurten products via these links over at Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Warehouse Europe.
