Lot # 3: Rafael Nadal's 2013 Indian Wells Championship Point Winning Racket - Last Indian Wells Title (Resolution Photomatch)

Category: Rafael Nadal

Starting Bid: $5,000.00

Bids: 8 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
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Item was in Auction "2024 Summer Tennis Auction",
which ran from 7/17/2024 4:00 PM to
8/4/2024 9:00 PM



22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal used this very racket during the 2013 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells Masters tennis tournament, including to win the championship point of the final match. Nadal's 2013 season is considered to be one of the greatest comeback seasons of all time; Nadal previously was unable to compete since June 2012 due to a serious knee injury. After doctors advised Nadal that he was probably not ready to compete on hard courts before Indian Wells, he decided to go anyway. Nadal planned to test his knee on the surface by just playing a match or two. Instead, he went on to play some of the best tennis of his career, defeating Roger Federer on his way to the final before defeating a red-hot Juan Martín del Potro in the final. Nadal used this racket to win both of those matches.

Nadal has since spoken many times throughout his career about how important and emotional this 2013 tournament was. The victory spurred one of the greatest seasons of Nadal's career, as he went on to win the French Open, US Open, and several Masters titles. It was ultimately Nadal's last of 3 career Indian Wells titles. 

This pro stock Babolat racket was custom made for Nadal and was never available for retail sale. It is accompanied by documentation from Resolution Photomatching, forensically confirming with ResMatches that it was used during the final against Del Potro including the championship point, as well as during the Quarterfinal against Federer.  

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