Celebrating Roland-Garros: Dubai-Based Antique Rackets Collection Up for Auction During the Tournament

An auction of rare antique tennis rackets and accessories will be held during the Roland-Garros tennis tournament, set to take place from May 22 to June 11, 2023. Tennis enthusiasts and collectors will have the opportunity to connect with the sport's rich history through this incredible, one-of-a-kind collection through the OpenSea platform.

CEO of Koronapay Europe, Slava Babienko's collection comprises one of the largest private collections of antique tennis rackets and accessories from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It includes 91 items, each with its unique story. Babienko's collection includes some exceptionally rare racket models, with some so rare that only a few exist as collectibles today.

“In order to showcase the unique history behind each racket and to allow collectors a new opportunity to interact with their purchase in new ways, we’ve designed high-quality NFT tokens to accompany each original object sold. I believe the enthusiasm for collecting antiquities needs to evolve with technology. Thanks to state-of-the-art technological advancements, we can now appreciate coveted objects in our own private spaces while also creating a high-quality digital footprint, providing a brand new experience,” says Slava Babienko.

Among the rare rackets up for auction are the following:

SPALDING (1876)

The oldest racket in the collection is truly a rare find and has Tournament on one side and A.G. Spalding and Bros made in the USA trademark on the other. On the end of the handle, it has A.G. Spalding and Bros. A.D.1876 trade Spalding mark.

“I acquired all of the objects, including the 1876 A.G. Spalding & Bros tennis racket, from auctions worldwide over the last decade,” says Babienko. “This 1876 racket is one of the earliest tennis racket models produced by A.G. Spalding & Bros. It’s incredible to see how the racket maintained its shape even after 147 years,” - adds Babienko.

TSARIST RUSSIA (1906-1910)

The first racket of Tsarist Russia and the preferred racket of Nicholas II. Only four of these rackets are known to exist today, three of which are in museums. Manufactured by the Tsygankov brothers, these rackets were produced in three varieties, including the "Maxim," the quality of which not only matched but surpassed any foreign racket at the time.

Spalding "Geneva" (1905)

This racket is marked with a "Geneva" gold decal in exceptionally good condition and a gold "A.G. Spalding Bros" trademark logo in excellent condition on the throat. Spalding is an American sports equipment manufacturing company founded in 1876, and this racket is a testament to the quality of its products.

Wright & Ditson Mass USA Championship Pat. (1905)

This racket was manufactured by Wright & Ditson, a sporting goods company founded by two professional baseball players in the late 1870s. Spalding later acquired the company, making this racket a rare piece of tennis history.

"Like any collector, I like the thrill of searching for rare and unique objects, and thanks to my love of tennis, I have assembled the largest collection of original antique rackets, tennis balls, tournament cups, and even tennis-themed postage stamps in CIS. After a decade in the making, I am finally ready to pass on my collection of 91 objects to other tennis enthusiasts," - concludes Babienko.

The online auction will coincide with the Roland-Garros tournament between May 22 and June 11, 2023. Tennis fans and collectors can place bids online and add these unique pieces to their collections. Each lot will include a physical object that can be shipped internationally and a digitalized NFT version.

About Slava Babienko:

An IT entrepreneur, serial collector and tennis enthusiast who spent over a decade putting together the antique tennis rackets collection.