Rafael Nadal just left another mark in the tennis history books, but it’s probably not what you’d think.
The former tennis legend just broke a record on Sunday, June 8 for having one of the most expensive tennis rackets ever sold.
According to “Prestige Memorabilia,” the racket Nadal used during his 2017 French Open Championship win sold for a jaw-dropping $157,000 during an auction.
Bidding on the item closed on Sunday night. The bidding war, which started at $10,000, ended with a total of 31 bids.
Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking racket was used in 24 different matches
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Nadal used the racket several times during the 2017 season, including in the Miami Final Match, where he lost in straight sets.
He also used it to beat Novak Djokovic during the Madrid Semifinal match on his journey to win the Madrid Open, according to the auction house, which photomatched the racket to 24 matches in 2017.
“To find a Grand Slam Final-used racket from Rafael Nadal is rare. To find one photo matched across an entire clay season (and more) — capped by a French Open title — is unprecedented,” Prestige Memorabilia wrote on its website. “Nadal’s 2017 run reaffirmed his place as the undisputed King of Clay, and this racket is a direct relic of that era-defining campaign.”
The Babolat racket was custom-made for Nadal and features his “Rafa” emblem on the throat, which isn’t found on retail versions.
The tennis legend broke his own record when the racket sold. The racket he used during the 2022 Australian Open, which sold for $139,700, had previously held the record.
Nadel ended his career in November 2024 at the Davis Cup. He finished his career with 22 Grand Slam titles.
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