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Barty, Nadal Donate 2022 Aussie Open Gear to Hall of Fame

March 29, 2022, NEWPORT, RI — Following historic title runs in Melbourne, 2022 Australian Open champions Ashleigh Barty and Rafael Nadal have donated pieces from their milestone victories to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The two kits, worn during Australian Open competition, have arrived in Newport, Rhode Island where they are on display in the museum and now part of the ITHF’s permanent collection.

Barty, who became the first Australian woman to win her home major since Chris O’Neil in 1978, gifted a FILA kit and pair of shoes prior to announcing her retirement from professional tennis earlier this month. Nadal broke the men’s Grand Slam record by capturing his 21st career major title in Melbourne, achieving the double career Slam in the process. His autographed Nike kit, headband and wristband now sit alongside Barty’s items in the ITHF Museum’s Grand Slam gallery.

As part of the ITHF’s permanent collection, Barty and Nadal’s gifts will be photographed and archived for future use in digital exhibits and educational content. “These donations from Ash Barty and Rafa Nadal represent two of the most memorable victories in the history of our sport. Their titles at the Australian Open were emblematic of much of what makes tennis great, showcasing perseverance, national pride, and sportsmanship.” said ITHF CEO Todd Martin. “We are excited to preserve those inspiring moments, and are grateful to Ash and Rafa for recognizing the importance of the ITHF’s mission to inspire future generations through sharing the game’s greatest stories.”

By defeating Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, Nadal completed one of the greatest single-match comebacks in the sport’s history to capture his second career Australian Open crown. The Spaniard broke the tie of 20 major titles he had previously held with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to become the all-time Grand Slam recordholder. Nadal joined the ranks of Djokovic and Hall of Famers Roy Emerson and Rod Laver to become the fourth man in history to win all four Slams twice.

With a straight-set win over Danielle Collins in the final, Barty cemented her place atop the WTA rankings and in the record books with her third singles major title. She became just the eighth woman to win a title on three different surfaces, alongside the 2019 French Open title and 2021 Wimbledon title. The Australian Open would prove to be her last tournament, as the world No. 1 announced her retirement earlier in March. With three singles Slams, a doubles Slam and 121 weeks atop the rankings on her resume, Barty automatically qualifies for inclusion on the ITHF enshrinement ballot in 2027.

Barty and Nadal’s items join the recent donations from 2021 US Open champions Medvedev and Emma Raducanu, who gifted a racquet and kit, respectively, to the ITHF following their victories in September.

Fans and visitors can plan their trip to view these artifacts in the ITHF Museum and learn more about the preservation process at www.tennisfame.com/museum-and-grounds/the-museum.

Posted on March 29, 2022
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