Condition

9

10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor

| Rarity

8

10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller

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About This Racket

Borg was contracted to use Bancroft rackets worldwide from 1977 to 1979 and then in 1980 restricted to use Bancroft only in the U.S. but eventually he was won over by Donnay. Donnay initially sponsored Björn Borg for just £58,000 in 1977 when he was 22yrs. In the same year he received £68k from Fila and £30k from Saab. In the same year Chris Evert was paid £147k from wilson. But from 1978 to 1983 the contract went up to $600,000 a year, plus royalties.

Donnay’s repeaed huge success with sponsorship of Bjorn Borg they want to ease Borg into their Allwood made in 1976. Initially this likely just carried the Bjorg name on its existing design as not much had changed (released in 1979). Indeed in 1979 the Allwood was priced at £32, the same price as T2000. Also in the same year the Maxply Fort £34 and Wilson Evert £24, the Slazenger Challenge was £32 and Yonex T7500 T8500 £29, £39. In 1981 they released the Donnay Borg Pro at a high price of £50 (increased to £60 in 1984!) and the Allwood Borg at £40 both extra for the head cover! Also in 1981 was the Donnay International and Donnay 33.

It was later when they released lots of variants such as the Borg Personal and the Borg Master was a slightly less common and likely ?more economical variant which neverthess had a stunning design. Which was best of the Donnay Borgs? Everything thinks is is this Pro Allwood but maybe you should make up your own mind!

Historical Photos

Specifications (not yet accurate)

About Donnay

In the world of tennis, few names have left as indelible a mark as Donnay. This Belgian company’s journey from a small woodworking business to the world’s largest tennis racket manufacturer is a tale of innovation, adaptation, and ultimately, a cautionary lesson in the fast-paced world of sports technology.

The story of Donnay begins in 1910 when Emile Donnay, born in 1885, founded a woodworking company in Couvin, Belgium. Initially focusing on tool handles, the company’s fortunes took an unexpected turn in 1913 when Emile started a side business manufacturing tennis rackets leading to a new premises in Couvin in 1927. In 1934 the company produced its first wooden tennis racket made from ash. This move into sporting goods would define the company for decades to come. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Donnay honed its craft, slowly building a reputation for quality tennis rackets.

The 1950s saw Donnay’s first major breakthrough when they secured a deal to manufacture rackets for Wilson making about 1.3 million rackets out of an annual production figure of two million. By 1969, Donnay had become the largest manufacturer of tennis rackets worldwide. The company’s production capabilities were impressive, with reports of up to 9,000 rackets being produced daily during peak periods. They were  the manufacturer of choice for tennis racquets worldwide. Donnay brand tennis racquets were also the choice of the world’s top players including Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and Cliff Drysdale. The company’s crowning achievement came in 1975 when they signed Björn Borg, who would go on to dominate the sport using Donnay rackets until his retirement in 1983. During this period, Donnay introduced several iconic rackets. The Donnay Borg Pro, designed for Björn Borg in 1978, became synonymous with his elegant style and clay court dominance. The Donnay Allwood, a classic wooden racket, was favored by players seeking exceptional feel and control.However, the departure of Björn Borg in 1983 was a significant blow to Donnay. The company had tied its fortunes too closely to a single figure, and without Borg’s star power, sales began to decline. Financial troubles mounted, and by 1988, Donnay filed for bankruptcy with $35 million in debt. In a twist of fate, French businessman Bernard Tapie acquired the company. , Donnay continued to struggle financially and only lives on as a  humble low-cost clothing brand available in Sports Direct stores. A terrible collapse for one of Tennis’ biggest names

Gallery

Donnay by Time

Donnay by Time