SUMMARY
- Rafael Nadal has not played a match since the first week of January.
- Rafael Nadal's racket, which he had used previously, is up for auction and is expected to create a new record after it is sold.
It has been a few weeks since Rafael Nadal played at the Brisbane International. He reached the quarterfinals after being away from the tour for a year due to his hip injury. Nadal suffered a minor injury in Brisbane and had to skip the Australian Open. Even though he is absent from the tour, his past victories are still remembered on the tour.
Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times. His victory over Roger Federer in the final of the 2007 edition is now being celebrated. The racket Nadal used in the final is up for auction and expected to sell for over $150,000. The auction will start on January 28, as there have already been 6 bids on the item. The starting bid was $10,000 and is being auctioned at Prestige Memorabilia.
The Babolat AeroPro Drive can become a part of the sport’s legacy. Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open racket was sold for a record $139,700. The second most expensive racket was the one used by Billie Jean King in 1973 during the Battle of the Sexes; the racket was priced at $125,000. Meanwhile, the racket used by Novak Djokovic at the 2016 French Open fetched $107,482.
Rafael Nadal reveals where he will play next
The 2024 season is suspected to be Nadal’s farewell year in the sport. He has played matches so far this year and has now announced his return to the game. The Spaniard is expected to play at the Qatar Open next month. The hardcourt event will start on 19th February as Nadal has time to recover from his muscle tear. It will be his second event of the year.
The 37-year-old won the singles title in Qatar in 2014 while beating Gael Monfils in the finals. But Nadal has found more success in doubles at the event, winning four titles with three partners. It is the only event where Nadal has won more than twice in doubles. He won the doubles title in 2005, 2009,2011 and 2015. It will be a special comeback to the event for the former world No.1.
See you soon, @RafaelNadal 👋 pic.twitter.com/65nctO29Tm
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 23, 2024
Nadal had last played at the Qatar Open in 2016, losing the final to Djokovic. Fans hope he plays more matches on clay than hardcourts this year. There is still hope about Nadal’s presence at the French Open and the Paris Olympics this year. His form at the Qatar Open will decide how long he will stay on the tour. There is still almost a month for the event to begin.