In a thrilling development, a devoted tennis fan who holds the prized possession of Novak Djokovic’s iconic racket that secured his victory in the 2016 French Open final has a chance to potentially earn $100,000 as the racket is now set to be auctioned.
The Serbian’s racket has been instrumental in helping him win four Grand Slams in a row: Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, and the French Open, a historic feat that makes him only the second man to do so in the Open era after the legendary Rod Laver.
Back in 2016, Abby Doherty, a college student on a trip to Paris with her family, witnessed the epic French Open final clash between Djokovic and Andy Murray at Roland-Garros. Novak clinched his first French Open title, securing victory in four sets.
Novak Djokovic’s French Open-Winning Racket (2016), Caught By Lucky Fan, Hits Auction
Now available at SCP Auctions … and their experts believe it could sell in excess of $100 grand!https://t.co/Q2KUBq40gS via @TMZ pic.twitter.com/QaePYvAnmt
— C Kristjánsdóttir ●🐊 (@CristinaNcl) November 27, 2023
In a moment of joy, Djokovic drew a heart on the famous clay courts of Roland Garros using his Head tennis racket and then threw it into the crowd. Abby, sitting there, had her own fangirl moment when she caught hold of the special racket with her father, taking a memorable picture to capture the delightful occasion.
This Head Speed Graphene Touch PT113B racket, confirmed by experts as the one used in the 2016 French Open final, is up for bidding at SCP Auctions. It also has Djokovic’s custom double-wrapped calfskin leather grip. Experts think it might sell for more than $100,000. Bidding for the Novak racket concludes on December 2.
Novak Djokovic’s partnership with Head and his racket evolution
In 2009, then world no. 3, Novak Djokovic made a very important decision of his career: he reinstated his deal with racket manufacturer HEAD, marking a return to the brand he trusted since his junior days. Djokovic eagerly embraced the HEAD family, expressing his enthusiasm for the racquet’s technology and its perfect synergy with his aggressive playing style.
Djokovic declared. “This gives me an exciting opportunity to play with a racquet that has the technology with the right feel to compliment my aggressive style of play.” Djokovic’s coach, Marian Vajda, lauded HEAD for catering to individual player needs and addressing the fine intricacies of his game, which proved to be the perfect match.
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Djokovic’s initial journey with HEAD took a turn when he embraced the pro stock racquet mold PT113B, a refined adaptation of the titanium Radical HEAD racquet of the early 2000s. This mold offered a stable yet flexible frame with precision, power, and a modest sweet spot. In 2018, Djokovic, along with his then coach, Andre Agassi, sought the expertise of racquet guru Roman Prokes in New York.
The idea was to deliver more power and spin but within the confines of a user-friendly frame to address the recurring elbow issue that prompted a reduction in swing weight from 370 gm to less than 350 gm. It also helped cope with the speedier demands of the modern-day game, which required a maneuverable frame, as detailed in this video. The collaboration with Head has created a powerful alliance leading to a record 24 Slams