Zion Hickerson secures Babolat sponsorship deal

Guyanese youth athlete Zion Hickerson has taken a significant step toward tennis stardom by signing a sponsorship agreement with French tennis giants Babolat.

The prestigious brand, famed for powering the careers of multi-Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime, spotted the young talent during a competitive stint in Miami, Florida.

It was there that Hickerson caught the eye of Babolat scout Parker McGuiness, Babolat’s VS North America’s Sports Marketing Coordinator, triggering discussions that finalised earlier this year.

Babolat is the oldest racquet sports company in the world, whose products include racquets, strings, shoes, balls, shuttlecocks, bags, apparel and accessories.

According to a press release, the partnership was cemented following Hickerson’s impressive runner-up finish at the Casely International Championships, which immediately followed his performance at the renowned ‘Little Mo’ tournament.

While the agreement is a half-sponsorship, the player’s father, Orin Hickerson, welcomed the development as a monumental “step in the right direction” for his son’s burgeoning athletic career.

It precedes an incredibly demanding summer schedule for the multi-talented youngster.

Hickerson is set to balance his commitments on the court with his passion on the pitch, juggling high-profile tennis tournaments with elite football camps at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and a local club in France.

Before heading to Europe, Hickerson will represent Guyana on the regional stage at the Junior CASA tournament in the British Virgin Islands, scheduled for July 10-16.

Proving his versatility as a dual-sport athlete, the youngster is currently keeping sharp on home soil, competing in the FIFA-backed Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Ensemble U13 Football Tournament. ( Modified Press Release)