Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal has broken yet another record despite retiring in 2024. The ‘King of Clay’ recently had one of his match-used rackets sold at auction for an astonishing $157,000, officially making history as the most expensive racket ever sold.

Rafael Nadal had a confession to make in his return to the French Open as the 38-year-old revealed that for the first time in his life he lost his competitive spirit. After capping off his career by representing Spain at the Paris Olympics and the Davis Cup Finals in November,

A Babolat racket used by Rafael Nadal during his 2017 French Open-winning final was sold at a Prestige Memorabilia auction for $157,333.20 including buyer's premium on Sunday, the most ever paid for a tennis racket.

Nadal's first French Open win set him on a path to untold dominance. Here's how it unfolded, according to those that lived it.

The Babolat racquet that Rafael Nadal used to complete La Decima at the Roland Garros eight years ago was sold at a Prestige Memorabilia auction on Sunday for a record price of $157,333.20 (INR 49.12 lakh),