$118,206 legacy lets Rafael Nadal snub Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in his bid for greatness as the Spaniard’s relics are priced second only to Billie Jean King’s records

The Spaniard already holds the record for most expensive tennis racket sold at an auction.

$118,206 legacy lets Rafael Nadal snub Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in his bid for greatness as the Spaniard’s relics are priced second only to Billie Jean King’s records

Rafael Nadal (Image via Imago)

Spanish tennis Rafael Nadal might not be as active as he was a few years ago on the tour, but the 37-year-old is still among the most loved personalities of the sport. This love was reflected in the amount one of Nadal’s rackets fetched at an auction on Monday.

Rafael Nadal’s tennis racket with which he hit his championship point in the memorable 2007 French Open final against Roger Federer fetched a massive $118,206.

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Notably, Nadal’s 2007 French Open racket was used to defeat Federer 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the final and Djokovic in the semifinal. It was auctioned online at Prestige Memorabilia’s The Tennis Auction on Monday and fetched a massive sum. With this record amount, Nadal comfortably left behind his nemesis- Federer and Novak Djokovic.

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Now, the Spaniard’s racket is third on the list of the most expensive tennis rackets sold at an auction. It is behind the legendary Billie Jean King‘s racket with which she won the ‘Battle of the Sexes’, sold for $125,000, and Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open racket ($139,700). Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s 2016 French Open racket is fourth on the list, having fetched $107,482.

Significance of this $118,206 worth racket in Rafael Nadal’s career

While the price tag attached to this Rafael Nadal racket speaks volumes about its materialistic value, the sentimental value attached to it is even bigger. Using this racket, Nadal went on to claim his third Grand Slam title and from thereon started his era of dominance. The Spaniard bagged 19 more major titles and 14 of them came at the French Open.

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Rafael Nadal at the 2007 French Open (Image via Roland Garros)

This led to Nadal getting nicknamed the ‘King of Clay’. Despite being in the twilight of his tennis career, Nadal is always the favorite when he takes the court at Roland Garros. The Spaniard showed on his comeback in 2022 that no one could take away the crown from him.

Fast forward to 2024, Rafael Nadal has missed the year’s first Grand Slam tournament- the Australian Open. However, he is expected to play at the 2024 French Open and go for the title one more time. Although Nadal has not confirmed that it will be his last French Open, fans and experts anticipate it to be.

If Nadal manages to clinch his 23rd Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open, his racket might fetch an even higher bid if it is auctioned.

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