Rafael Nadal’s 2017 French Open Final "La Decima" Match Used Racket – Photomatched to 24 Matches

There is domination in sport, and then there is Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. Presented here is a historic artifact from the most commanding clay-court supremacy the sport has ever seen: Rafael Nadal's personally match used racket from the 2017 French Open Final, where he won his "Decima" tenth title and fifteenth major title overall. The tournament marked his return to Grand Slam glory, ending a three year drought.

In the final, Nadal beat 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets (6–2, 6–3, 6–1), lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for a record 10th time. Throughout the tournament, Nadal did not lose a single set and didn't lose more than four games in any set played, making this one of the most dominant tournaments ever. With just 35 games lost in the tournament, it was the second fewest in history en route to win a Grand Slam; this was only behind Bjorn Borg's 32 games lost back in 1978. 

What makes this racket even more extraordinary is that it has been photomatched to 27 dates including 24 different matches across Nadal’s dominant 2017 season — including the Miami Open final against Roger Federer, his Madrid Open final win, and every one of his seven rounds of the historic 2017 French Open. Additionally, this racket was very likely used by Nadal earlier in the season during the Australian Open. Resolution made additional possible photomatches to five of his Australian Open matches, including the legendary 2017 Australian Open final against Federer. The full coveted Resolution Photomatching documentation accompanies the racket.

The Babolat racket, custom made for Nadal, features his "Rafa" emblem on the throat, not found on retail versions of the racket. It also has his Babolat customization sticker reading "R. Nadal 12-2016 3", and a stringing sticker from the 2017 French Open; the sticker reads "RG 2017 Nadal", and has his string tension of 25.5 kg in the mains and crosses, and is dated to the date of the final on 6/11/2017. The racket still has clay stains on the overgrip and throughout, and shows tremendous use overall. 

To find a Grand Slam Final-used racket from Rafael Nadal is rare. To find one photomatched across an entire clay season (and more) — capped by a French Open title — is unprecedented. 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.

This is by far the most extensively photomatched Rafael Nadal racket ever offered publicly, and one of the most significant pieces of tennis memorabilia to ever surface. A true centerpiece for any serious sports or tennis collection, from the man who turned the clay of Paris into his personal kingdom.

Resolution Photomatching Conclusive Tournament Matches:

- 3/2/2017 def. Y. Nishioka 7-6 6-3 (Mexico Quarterfinal)

- 3/14/2017 def. F. Verdasco 6-3 7-5 (Indian Wells R32)

- 3/24/2017 def. D. Sela 6-3 6-4 (Miami R64)

- 3/26/2017 def. P. Kohschreiber 0-6 6-2 6-3 (Miami R32)

- 3/28/2017 def. N. Mahut 6-4 7-6 (Miami R16)

- 3/31/2017 def. F. Fognini 6-1 7-5 (Miami Semifinal)

- 4/2/2017: Roger Federer def. Nadal 6-3 6-4 (Miami Final)

- 4/19/2017 def. K. Edmund 6-0 5-7 6-3 (Monte-Carlo R32)

- 4/26/2017 def. R. Dutra Silva 6-1 6-2 (Barcelona R32)

- 4/27/2017 def. K. Anderson 6-3 6-4 (Barcelona R16)

- 4/28/2017 def. H. Chung 7-6 6-2 (Barcelona Quarterfinal)

- 4/29/2017 def. H. Zeballos 6-3 6-4 (Barcelona Semifinal)

- 5/12/2017 def. D. Goffin 7-6 6-2 (Madrid Quarterfinal)

- 5/13/2017 def. N. Djokovic 6-2 6-4 (Madrid Semifinal)

- 5/14/2017 def. D. Thiem 7-6 6-4 (Madrid Final)

- 5/17/2017 def. N. Almagro 3-0 (Rome R32)

- 5/19/2017: D. Thiem def. Nadal 6-4 6-3 (Rome Quarterfinal) 

- 5/29/2017 def. B. Paire 6-1 6-4 6-1 (French Open First Round)

- 5/31/2017 def. R. Haase 6-1 6-4 6-3 (French Open Second Round)

- 6/2/2017 def. N. Basilashvili 6-0 6-1 6-0 (French Open Third Round)

- 6/4/2017 def R. Bautista 6-1 6-2 6-2 (French Open Fourth Round)

- 6/7/2017 def. P. Carreno 6-2 2-0 (French Open Quarterfinal)

- 6/9/2017 def. D. Thiem 6-3 6-4 6-0 (French Open Semifinal)

- 6/11/2017 def. S. Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 6-1 (French Open Final)