When 2022 US Open semi-finalist Karen Khachanov switched from his long-time Wilson Blade to the new Wilson Defyer 98 Pro V1, tennis gear enthusiasts took notice. The racket's striking red and black design is hard to miss.
Khachanov, set to compete at the US Open over the next fortnight, made the switch after a single hitting session. He praised the £250 frame for delivering effortless spin and pace without sacrificing baseline control.
Testing the racket as a casual player
While a 6ft 6in powerhouse with tour-level swing speed can dominate with it, the key question for Sunday morning club players remains: can a casual hitter actually play with Khachanov's racket?
Walking onto the court in temperatures above 30 degrees, this hack knew the ball would need to do all the running. As a casual player, it took a few shots to work the racket out. The swing was short and inconsistent, and the racket didn't hand over the answers immediately.
Spin and pace improvements
But as the warm-up progressed and shots became more consistent, satisfying depth and crisp directional control emerged. The spin and pace felt a lot more effortless than any other racket tried. Other spin rackets sent the ball wildly over the net, but this one appeared a lot more controlled.
For a half-decent ball-striker or regular club player who can middle the racket every time, this is definitely one to consider. The biggest difference was spin control.
Khachanov's verdict and technical details
As world No. 39 Khachanov puts it: "For me personally, it's easier power and easier spin. It's easier to make it than with my older frame [Wilson Blade]."
He added: "So, I think with the... This is a completely new frame. It's a new engineer from scratch. So, that's why I trusted Wilson with their engineering, with what they can do for the next generation of rackets, which I think will be obviously because it's a completely different frame from the last 15-20 years."
The Defyer features Wilson's new TORQ Shaft Tech geometry and an SI3D hoop structure. It runs a tighter 16x20 pattern, weighs 305g unstrung, and has a 98-square-inch head size.
Limited edition availability
Fans of first edition runs need to act quickly. A distinctive "Redline" mark on the hoop comes with the Concept Edition. Once sold out, all further rackets will have "Defyer" labelled on them.
