Babolat teamed with Wimbledon again in 2026 for a range of special products, including a grass-ready Jet Mach 4 Wimbledon.

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Not many names in tennis have a longer standing position in the sport than Wimbledon. Babolat predates Wimbledon by two years and two of the oldest names in tennis have again partnered on special collections for Wimbledon 2026, including special-edition rackets, bags and a grass-ready shoe.

“For us, the Wimbledon collection is much more than a seasonal product range,” Marion Cornu, head of tennis at Babolat, tells me. “It is a very natural alliance between two brands that have helped shape tennis history.”

Babolat, founded in France in 1875, invented tennis string thanks to Pierre Babolat, great-great-grandfather of current owner and CEO Eric Babolat. Wimbledon hosted its first championships two years later. “There is something very powerful in bringing together two names that have been part of tennis from the very beginning,” Cornu says.

The two have worked together since 2013, but Cornu says the relationship grows each year, now with the range of Wimbledon products and as the French-based company the official racket service provider of the tournament.

When it came time to form the 2026 product range, Cornu says color played a key role in fulfilling the goal of crafting a bold and modern design. “Every detail matters,” Cornu says. “Some seasons we play with the iconic purple and green. Other years we explore white, gold or more unexpected executions. For 2026, we made the choice of a premium, performance-led white and sport-tech palette featuring different shades of grey.”

While there’s a range of six different Pure Drive rackets created in the Wimbledon design, from junior offerings to pro-level rackets we may see during the tournament, every Babolat player will sport one of the new Wimbledon bags. “Each year, players and fans want to discover the new colorway, the new design direction, the new interpretation of Wimbledon,” Cornu says about the popular bag lineup. “We even notice it with our pro players, when they discover the upcoming collection at our annual photo shoot in March in Indian Wells.”

Cornu says the team tries to create a fresh look each year, but still retain continuity with Wimbledon’s codes of elegance, premium finishing and detailing. “Sometimes the difference is more classic and refined,” Cornu says, “sometimes it is bolder, more graphic or more emotional. The goal is to create something that feels instantly Wimbledon, but clearly Babolat.”

The process includes Babolat designers and product teams working collaboratively with the Wimbledon team. From first sketches to final product, the process takes roughly two years, meaning the team is already thinking about 2028.

While Babolat-sponsored players (and consumers) will showcase the rackets and bags, all the ball kids will sport the Jet Mach 4 Wimbledon shoe featuring grass-specific studded outsoles developed by Babolat partner Michelin. World No. 29 Cameron Norrie, from Great Britain, will wear the shoe during competition.

As the official racket service partner, Babolat will bring a team of up to 25 professional stringers from around the world to handle more than 6,000 rackets across the tournament, as many as 600 per day.

“In the end, the best Wimbledon collection is one that feels both timeless and new,” Cornu says, “respectful of the Wimbledon codes, distinctive as a Babolat product and desirable enough that players and wants want to keep it long after the final has been played.”

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