Danish tennis star Holger Rune has found himself at odds with racket manufacturer Babolat after broken equipment from his matches appeared for sale on his official website at £5,291 per item.
The controversial listing emerged following the eighth seed's disappointing first-round departure from Wimbledon, where he suffered a five-set defeat to Chile's Nicolas Jarry.
The damaged rackets were marketed as "ultra-exclusive collector's items" on Shop Holger Rune before being swiftly removed on Tuesday morning.
Babolat has publicly criticised the sale, with the company confirming they are engaged in discussions with Rune's representatives regarding the incident, which they say conflicts with their corporate values.
Danish tennis star Holger Rune has found himself at odds with racket manufacturer Babolat after broken equipment from his matches appeared for sale on his official website at £5,291 per item
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Rune's troubles began after he fell 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 4-6 to Jarry on Monday, marking an early exit for one of the tournament's seeded players.
The website's product description attempted to justify the hefty price tag, stating: "Holger Rune's smashed rackets are ultra-exclusive collector's items, used in official matches and available in very limited quantities."
The listing continued: "Why? Because Holger Rune rarely lets frustration get the better of him. But when it does, the moment - and the racket - tell a story."
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Holger Rune swiftly removed the rackets from his website
HolgerRune
Two broken rackets were initially offered at $7,231 (£5,291) each, despite being rendered unusable during competitive play.
Babolat's leadership has expressed strong disapproval of the sale, with chief executive Marion Cornu telling CLAY and RG Media: "It's not our intention to promote broken rackets."
"We're in talks with his agent. Obviously, it's not our intention to promote broken racquets.
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"We have to be consistent with our values, so we're working on that issue with his representatives."
Despite Babolat's claims of ongoing dialogue, Rune's team told the publication that neither his agents nor those close to him had received any communication from the racket manufacturer at the time of reporting.
The website administrators ultimately chose to withdraw the listings, with insiders close to the matter indicating they wished to avoid unnecessary media scrutiny that might distract the player.
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The decision to remove the items reportedly came from Rune's website team rather than as a direct response to Babolat's concerns.
Despite the brief availability of the broken rackets, one item did find a buyer before the listings were pulled.
Wimbledon star Holger Rune lost to Nicolas Jarry earlier this week
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All proceeds from the sale are reportedly earmarked for charitable donation, though specific beneficiary details have not been disclosed.
The incident leaves only Rune's match-worn clothing and standard merchandise available on his official shop, with the controversial rackets no longer featured.
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