Tennis

Rafael Nadal's Iconic Roland Garros T-Shirt Up for AuctionNearly two decades ago, a teenage Rafael Nadal burst onto the global sporting scene with a remarkable run to his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Now, a piece of that historic triumph is available for purchase, but it comes with a hefty price tag.In 2005, Nadal, seeded fourth in his Roland Garros debut, stunned the tennis world with a series of impressive victories. He defeated compatriot David Ferrer in the quarterfinals, overcame Roger Federer for the first time in a major semifinal, and on his 19th birthday, triumphed over unseeded Mariano Puerta in the final.Beyond his exceptional tennis, Nadal also made a fashion statement with his attire. The green-patterned Nike T-shirt paired with long white pants became one of the most iconic outfits of his career.Now, that very T-shirt is up for auction through Prestige Memorabilia, the leading tennis memorabilia auction house. The shirt is expected to fetch a six-figure sum, with bidding starting at $25,000.This is the first time a Grand Slam-winning shirt has been offered for auction. Previous items sold by Prestige Memorabilia include Nadal's 2007 Roland Garros-winning racquet, which fetched $118,206.Bidding for the T-shirt is open until August 4th at TheTennisAuction.com. Collectors can also bid on other memorabilia from tennis legends such as Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz.

Tennis Gear: Where Does It Go After the Match?Serena Williams' iconic black catsuit and Coco Gauff's US Open kit may have found their way into museums, but what happens to the countless other tennis outfits and equipment that players accumulate throughout their careers?For some players, like Emma Navarro, donating to charities is a way to give back. She recently donated 40-50 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that distributes clothing and footwear to those in need. Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, keeps her favorite practice gear but donates her match outfits and most practice clothes to her foundation, Serving Up Hope.Elise Mertens sends boxes of her kits to Africa, while Lindsay Davenport, Caroline Dolehide, and others donate their gear to Goodwill. Dolehide also gives items to fans who ask, especially visors and jerseys.Taylor Townsend, who doesn't have a sponsor, keeps her kits because she purchases them with her own money. However, she does donate rackets and equipment.Some player clothing ends up in the fundraising pipeline. Players donate signed items and rackets to their own foundations or ones they support. Dealers often buy these items to resell to collectors. Prestige Memorabilia, a company that deals exclusively in tennis relics, has auctioned off Roger Federer's signed match shirt from the 2018 Australian Open for $33,000 and Rafael Nadal's racket from the 2007 French Open final for $118,000.However, according to Prestige Memorabilia owner Matt Cashin, only a minority of player clothing ends up at auction. "There have been very few of Serena's clothes or rackets on the collector market," he said.