John McEnroe signed a smashed racket, expected to fetch up to £5,000 at auction this month.
What happened?
The wooden racket, used by McEnroe between 1977 and 1980, is still held together only by its strings after he destroyed it in one of his notorious fits of pique.
The racket is inscribed with a note from McEnroe to the owner of the accommodation where he stayed while playing at the All England Club.
It reads: “Thanks for the memories, good or bad.”
Why it matters for John McEnroe
The racket is being sold along with another intact racket of McEnroe’s, in a timed auction by Budds, the sports memorabilia specialists, scheduled to conclude on July 19.
Both items are estimated to be worth between £3,000 and £5,000, and were given by McEnroe to a woman known only as Linda.
Linda’s son Sam Matthews appeared on the Antiques Roadshow with the damaged racket in 2012.
What comes next?
McEnroe confirmed that he had used the broken item before signing it, saying “That was definitely a racket I played with” on the television show.
The Adidas trainers that Sir Andy Murray wore during his 2013 Wimbledon victory are also listed in the same auction and are expected to sell for up to £1,500.
Sir Andy wore them during his straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic as he ended a 77-year wait for a British male Wimbledon champion.
The trainers are now being sold by the All England Club’s former head groundsman.
The auction will conclude on July 19, with the items expected to fetch significant amounts due to their historical value and connection to renowned tennis players like John McEnroe and Sir Andy Murray.