SEVILLA, September 4, 2023

In the early days of May 1963, a TAD Davis wooden racket was part of the first victory in the Copa Sevilla, played by José María Alfín, the tournament’s first champion. In early September 2023, Spaniard Javier Barranco Cosano was able to try a TAD Davis racket model similar to the one used by Alfín.

Barranco, currently ranked World No. 305 in the ATP Rankings and a winner of 14 singles titles on the ITF Pro Circuit, stepped onto the Centre Court of the Real Club de Tenis Betis on Monday to wield two wooden rackets: the aforementioned TAD Davis similar to the one used by Alfín 60 years earlier, and the Slazenger Challenge No. 1, like the one used by another Andalusian to win the Copa Sevilla in 1966, Manolo Orantes.

The left-handed player from Almería, who initially wondered if he would be able to make the right shots, was enthusiastic about playing these vintage rackets.

Barranco hit forehands and backhands, even served a few times, and stated: “This experience has been insane. Honestly, I don’t understand how they could play with these rackets. I think if I tried to play with them now, I wouldn’t be able to because I honestly don’t know how to generate spin, and the strings and frame are very small. I’ve been amazed. It’s crazy.”