Astrox 99 Sapphire Navy (1st Gen)
Model AX-99SN · Kento Momota
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Where to find it
Momota's shadow: Astrox 99 Sapphire Navy
The other 99
The Astrox 99 1st Generation launched in 2018 in Sunshine Orange — Kento Momota's war colour at the height of his dominance. In 2019, Yonex released the Sapphire Navy as a second colorway variant: same frame, same specifications, entirely different emotional register. Where the Orange announced intent, the Navy suggested quiet, inevitable precision.
The 3U to 4U transition
Momota famously switched mid-2019 from the 3U to the 4U version of the Astrox 99, citing fatigue during long matches — a testament to how demanding the extra stiff profile and head-heavy balance were even for the world's best player. The Sapphire Navy was released exactly as that transition was happening, giving it a specific biographical timestamp in the Momota-Yonex timeline: the colorway available when he was redefining how an elite player manages the most powerful racquet in the lineup.
Provenance at a discount
At $338 versus the Sunshine Orange's $550, the Sapphire Navy is a compelling secondary entry for collectors who want 1st Gen Astrox 99 provenance at a more accessible price point. Its scarcity relative to the Orange has grown as both versions age out of active play. The performance floor is identical — only the narrative premium differs.
Deep sapphire blue finish — not navy black. Distinct from the 2nd Gen AX-99 Pro colorways. NAMD shaft designation. ROTATIONAL GENERATOR SYSTEM on frame. Made in Japan. Head-heavy, Extra Stiff. Standard Yonex hologram.
Entry-level position into the Momota 1st Gen collection. Appreciation will trail the Sunshine Orange but track upward as both versions become genuinely scarce.
Prices last updated March 2026. All data based on tracked secondary market transactions.