A Historic Racket 🎾
Even in retirement, Nadal is still setting records.
Go figure that at the first French Open since Rafael Nadal’s retirement last November, he still managed to be on everyone’s mind and in the tennis news for the event he dominated, unlike anyone else with a record 14 wins.
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The King of Clay
Even in retirement, Nadal is still setting records. Over the weekend, Nadal’s 2017 Babolat that he used in 24 matches, including his win at the French Open that year, sold for $157,333.20 at Prestige Memorabilia, making it the most expensive tennis racket ever sold at auction. It was expected to fetch at least $100,000, but inflation is hitting everywhere.
Nadal already held the previous record, too, for the most expensive tennis racket sold at auction. The racket he used in ATP games from his final Grand Slam title at the 2022 Australian Open sold for $139,700 in 2023.
2017 was a dominant year for Nadal as he won a pair of Grand Slam titles and returned to the world’s No. 1 ranking. He won his 10th French Open title that year, defeating Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the final. That was the first time any tennis player had won at least 10 titles in the same Grand Slam tournament, establishing Nadal as the world’s greatest player on clay.
One of the reasons that this ended up being the longest and possibly the greatest Roland Garros final ever is that Rafa Nadal won this trophy for almost the entire 21st century, 14/14 finals, and never even got taken to a 5th set ONCE.
He had completely monopoly over this thing. pic.twitter.com/6XLM18aIz7
— Swish 🍒 Tennis (@Zwxsh) June 9, 2025
Nadal Congratulates Latest French Open Repeat Winner
The 2025 French Open wrapped up this weekend to a great buzz from fans around the world after Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback win against Jannik Sinner, and an impressive win by Coco Gauff on the women’s side.
But one has to wonder why tennis great John McEnroe felt the need to say that Alcaraz and Sinner, the men’s finalists in the 2025 French Open, would be favored to beat Nadal at his best, presumably at Roland Garros, where he was almost unbeatable on clay.
“They would be favourite to beat Nadal at his best!”
John McEnroe believes you could make an argument for Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz beating Rafa Nadal at his best on clay.
Do you agree? 🤔#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/YuhSghehF4
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 8, 2025
To throw McEnroe’s famous words back at him, you cannot be serious, man. At least people were right to criticize the over exaggeration from McEnroe, who wasn’t getting enough attention lately before spouting off his tennis rumors.
Carlos Alcaraz has won his 5th Grand Slam title at the EXACT same age as Rafa Nadal when he achieved the same feat.
Some things are just meant to be 🇪🇸🤩 pic.twitter.com/bjM94k2nIB
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 8, 2025
Nadal on clay is up there with just about any athlete in their prime. I was always a Roger Federer fan, and it’s always two middle fingers for everything Novak Djokovic does, but I know better than to insult the King of Clay on his most dominant surface. On grass? Maybe these youngsters can get him.
Granted, Alcaraz is impressive in his own right. Incredibly, Alcaraz just won his fifth Grand Slam title at the same exact age as Nadal (22 years, 1 month, 3 days) when he won his fifth.
Carlos Alcaraz on winning his 5th Grand Slam at 22 years, 1 month, & 3 days old, the exact same age as Rafa Nadal won his 5th, ‘I’m gonna say that’s destiny I guess. It’s a stat that I’m gonna keep with me forever’ 🥹
“You just won your 5th Grand Slam at only 22 years old, 1… pic.twitter.com/P8lquDlCW8
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 8, 2025
Just 17 more to go, young fella. But Nadal was all class in congratulating his fellow Spaniard on the big win. He took to social media to leave a message for Alcaraz:
¡Qué final de @rolandgarros tan increíble! 🔥
¡Enhorabuena @carlosalcaraz! 🏆💪🏼
Congrats also @janniksin for the great battle 👏🏻
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 8, 2025
It’s to be expected after Alcaraz said he thought about Rafa’s comebacks before making his own in a match that took nearly five hours and is already considered an instant classic in tennis history.
It looks like the future of tennis is in great hands.
