Didn't Win Roger's Racquet in auction for Haiti but I got the next best thing....

[jorel]

Originally Posted by Fabfed

I made a number of bids for Roger’s 2010 AO match-used racquet from the “Tennis Stars Auction Racquets for Haiti” auction which ended today, but was unsuccesful, the winning bid was a staggering US$25,000 (I could not bring myself to bid 20K let alone 25K). I had planned to post comparative pics of his debut Slam winning BLX 6.1 Tour 90 with the K6.1 Tour 90 actual racquet of Roger’s that I have, if I had won, but I guess that would have to remain a dream for now.

That disappointment aside, I have good news for my fellow posters, I did manage to score Nadal’s 2010 AO match-used racquet from the same auction (it went for less than a third of Roger’s racquet, but was the second most popular racquet, auction price wise, followed by the racquets of Djokovic, Clijsters and Dokic). If all goes well, I should get the racquet within 3 weeks or so (Tennis Australia said that processing time would take about 20 days), and I will post clear, close-up pics (as I always do) of Nadal’s new stick and we can all try to determine if it’s indeed the new Aeropro Drive GT or just a paintjob etc. Though I’m a big Fed fan, I do not dislike Nadal, in fact I like him for some of his amazing qualities, and I’m pretty stoked about getting my hands on Nadal’s actual racquet.

Those who know me will know this is not some sham thread, but for those who think I am pulling a fast one, I have just one request – don’t visit my thread when I do post pics of the racquet (and this is directed in particular at sureshs, who can go **** himself/itself).

Stay tuned ....

i need a loan

[Fabfed]

Originally Posted by sixone90

I'm not sure if you know, but Hewitt had an auction awhile back for supposedly one of the racquets Nadal played with during Wimbledon 2008, and guess what? It had cortex. Fraud?

I know what you are referring to, these are the photos from that Hewitt charity auction in Nov 2008, where the "Wimbledon-used APD” was supposed to have been donated to the auction by Nadal. Looking at the photos, it does look like a stock APDC rather than a APD, the cortex is there and even the grip looks like an original grip rather than an overgrip, as some posters had pointed out.






Photos from Hewitt charity auction


Now compare this to the photo below of the APD Nadal donated to the Wimbledon museum in 2008 after his win, notice that Nadal’s signature goes smoothly and uninterrupted over the “V” cortex (and even on the yellow part of the throat with the word Aeropro), indicating that it is painted on. Now compare it to the Hewitt auction photos again, although Nadal’s signature does not touch the cortex, there is an interruption of the signature even as it goes over the yellow portion with the word Aeropro.


Photo taken from Wimbledon Museum in 2008


Hate to flog this topic to death, but I have a vested interest in this issue as I paid a tidy sum for the racquet (albeit for a very good cause), and I would expect to see my racquet with a painted on cortex and a completely smooth throat...

[jorel]

Originally Posted by Fabfed

I know what you are referring to, these are the photos from that Hewitt charity auction in Nov 2008, where the "Wimbledon-used APD” was supposed to have been donated to the auction by Nadal. Looking at the photos, it does look like a stock APDC rather than a APD, the cortex is there and even the grip looks like an original grip rather than an overgrip, as some posters had pointed out.






Photos from Hewitt charity auction


Now compare this to the photo below of the APD Nadal donated to the Wimbledon museum in 2008 after his win, notice that Nadal’s signature goes smoothly and uninterrupted over the “V” cortex (and even on the yellow part of the throat with the word Aeropro), indicating that it is painted on. Now compare it to the Hewitt auction photos again, although Nadal’s signature does not touch the cortex, there is an interruption of the signature even as it goes over the yellow portion with the word Aeropro.


Photo taken from Wimbledon Museum in 2008


Hate to flog this topic to death, but I have a vested interest in this issue as I paid a tidy sum for the racquet (albeit for a very good cause), and I would expect to see my racquet with a painted on cortex and a completely smooth throat...

i would expect the same

[Nanshiki]

I think you either have more money than brains or have a serious lack of brains...

So how much did it cost you?

[drakulie]

Wow! 8k for a racquet. Ouch.

Anyway, thanks for posting, and as always look forward to the photos.

[Pioneer]

It would actually be kind of cool if they send you a stock APDC with a nadal signature, you could sue Babolat/Australian open/whatever and rip them off with like 100 grand.

It would also be cool if they sent you the real racquet and you discovered both the racquet and strings are PJ-ed. Then you could sue them for misleading their clients and bust the whole paintjob business that's absolute fraud and against any moral principle.

In both scenarios you would rip them off, and in the 2nd scenario you would bust painjobbing and be everyone's hero!

[VamosRafa10]

Id be gutted if it wasnt legit. I wish you the best with hopefully your real nadal racquet

[kiteboard]

Originally Posted by jorel

i would expect the same

You can also see that the string is duarast, due to its translucence.

[Azzurri]

Originally Posted by Pioneer

It would actually be kind of cool if they send you a stock APDC with a nadal signature, you could sue Babolat/Australian open/whatever and rip them off with like 100 grand.

It would also be cool if they sent you the real racquet and you discovered both the racquet and strings are PJ-ed. Then you could sue them for misleading their clients and bust the whole paintjob business that's absolute fraud and against any moral principle.

In both scenarios you would rip them off, and in the 2nd scenario you would bust painjobbing and be everyone's hero!

wow..you seem to know quite a bit about PJ's for a new poster.

u in the biz?

[MichaelChang]

Wow I didn't know a real Federer used racket can go for 25k. Even 8k for a Nadal used racket sounds quite insane. Well Fabfed you are the man.

[mtommer]

Instead of discussing whether the racquet is authentic or not right now, why don't we wait for the racquet to come first. Goodness, you're going to give the OP an anxiety attack everyone.

[sureshs]

25K was too much but 20K was OK? LOL

People who bid 20K don't bother about 5K spare change.

Take your story somewhere else. Anyone can post a pic of APDC or whatever it is.

And yeah I will be playing with Fed's racquet soon. It is a demo in the pro shop. It is called the BLX 90.

And BTW, why do you want to buy a Fed racquet at an online auction, since you already have a verified one from a real auction already LOL

[jemsiter]

the auction says it is a signed racquet. so if i were you i would be very concerned. i can almost feel they are going to ship you a stock racquet with nadal's signature.

[Kenny022593]

^Atleast FedAce is actually funny and nice....

[aphex]

.................

[volleynets]

So either I could have bought Federer's racket or a brand new car. HMMMMMMM.

[Nanshiki]

Originally Posted by RealTruth

Lots of times when pros donate racquets they are stock versions of their PJ'd frames. My local pro shop has a signed PDR and a signed APDC and both have the cortex in them and even are strung and overgripped to look like they are from the actual players stock.

That stupid "sports collectibles" company (the one that sells signed balls and pieces of nets in cases for ridiculous amounts) had a signed STOCK PDR on display at the Davis Cup in B-Ham, and it was $750. That's a $550 profit, considering A-Rod probably signed it for free.

[topanlego]

Originally Posted by kiteboard

It would be interesting to remove the head guard and see how much lead, and where, and whether silicone injected into handle, wt, balance, and whether the string is duralast painted black, whether it is cortex. Can you do that for us?

I don't understand this "painted black" thing on the duralast. Wouldn't the paint get rubbed off during play? And since it's a ploy, paint/stencil wouldn't stick on very well anyway.

[kimbahpnam]

Originally Posted by volleynets

So either I could have bought Federer's racket or a brand new car. HMMMMMMM.

if i could afford it, i'd go for the racquet. do you know how fast a car depreciates?

a signed authentic game-used fed racquet in some years time will be worth a lot more than the car you decided to buy instead of the racquet.

[Wes_Loves_Dunlop]

I think it would be the real deal, because the rackets they are selling are from the players themselves, not from babolat or whatever company