Racquet Rafael Nadal used to win 2007 French Open sold for Rs 98 lakhs

Published at :January 29, 2024 at 11:09 PM

Modified at :January 29, 2024 at 11:09 PM

Rafael Nadal’s 2022 racquet earlier fetched 1.16 crore

Rafael Nadal’s racquet which he used to win the 2007 French Open against Roger Federer has been sold for a staggering $118,000 (around 98 lakhs) at an online auction, making it the third most expensive tennis racquet ever.

The racquet, which Nadal signed and donated to the now-defunct Australian Tennis Museum, was auctioned by Prestige Memorabilia’s online platform, The Tennis Auction, on Monday. The bidding started at $10,000 and attracted 37 bids from around the world, before reaching the final price of $118,206.

The racquet holds a special place in Nadal’s illustrious career, as it helped him clinch his third consecutive French Open title and his first Grand Slam win over Federer, his longtime rival. Nadal defeated Federer in four sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a thrilling final that lasted over three hours. The racquet also served Nadal well in his previous matches, including a tough semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

The 2007 French Open was a turning point for Nadal, who went on to win 20 more Grand Slam titles, including 11 more at Roland Garros, making him the undisputed king of clay.

The auction of Nadal’s racquet comes at a time when the Spanish legend is recovering from a minor injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. Nadal suffered a small muscle tear in his back during the Brisbane International in January and decided to skip the Melbourne event to avoid further damage.

Nadal’s racquet is the latest addition to the list of high-value tennis memorabilia that have been sold in recent years. The most expensive tennis racquet ever is Nadal’s racquet that he used to win the 2022 Australian Open, which fetched $139,700 (around 1.16 crore) at an auction in 2023. The second most expensive racquet is Billie Jean King’s racquet that she used to beat Bobby Riggs in the famous ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match in 1973, which sold for $125,000 (1.03 crore) in 2017.

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Nadal’s fans and collectors are delighted by the sale of his 2007 French Open racquet, which reflects his remarkable achievements and legacy in the sport. As Nadal prepares for his comeback, he will be hoping to add more trophies and records to his collection, and perhaps even surpass Federer’s Grand Slam tally.

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