Rafa's Stick

OK, I've started paying attention to tennis again--pro tennis--as usual just in time for the French Open. More to come on the Rome and Hamburg outcomes, but first, some geartalk. To wit: Nadal's frame, the Babolat AeroPro Drive Cortex, his yellow scepter of spinny doom. Based on the reliable Tennis Warehouse, is would appear that only he and...Caroline Wozniacki use this racquet. Huh? Arguably the greatest clay court player of all time and he stands alone on the men's tour as a wielder of this sub-12 oz. whupping stick?

I suppose this could have something to do with Nadal's unorthodox style, which hasn't really been widely copied. But still... Of course, Federer's Wilson is pretty much his and his alone, and at 90 sq. inches, a singular choice, because everyone else seems to use the 95 sq.-inch version, but those frames are more similar than different.

Maybe there's a raft of juniors out there swinging AeroPro Drive Cortexes. I dunno. It's certainly not as popular, by a long shot, as the Pure Drive and its ilk, which I see on court all the time, in the hands of everyone from pros to Sunday women's doubles players.