Donnay Continental Four

Donnay

Donnay Continental Four (1978)

Condition
10
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 The Court King

Before Donnay’s huge success with sponsorship of Bjorn Borg they made some excellent early rackets with unique designs such as this Continental four. The paint finish is so good, I am dating this to the late 70s but I don’t have much early history and cannot find any early sponsorships. Very likely this was a mid-range racket and a modest seller. This one seems in new condition with original strings and original string stamp logo.

Specifications

MeasurementsValuePerformanceScore
Weight375gPower40/100
Length 68sq in 27.75inchControl37/100
Balance1pt head heavy 210)Spin38/100
GripEmbossed leatherHandling50/100
Strings18 x 20 | syntheticComfort77/100
FlexibilityRA 47Consistency55/100

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

YearKey Event
1885Emile Donnay is born
1910Emile Donnay founds a woodworking company in Couvin, Belgium
1913Donnay starts a side business manufacturing broomsticks for the coal mining industry
1927New premises constructed in Couvin
1934Donnay produces its first wooden tennis racket made from ash
1950Donnay secures a deal to manufacture rackets for Wilson
1969Donnay starts signing more players to lucrative sponsorships
1971Donnay’ sales top 1 million per year
1973Wilson Sporting Goods drops Donnay as its contract tennis racket manufacturer
1974Björn Borg wins his first Grand Slam at the French Open
1975Donnay signs Björn Borg
1978The Donnay Borg Pro racket, designed for Björn Borg becomes the biggest seller
1980Donnay manufactures just 3,000 graphite rackets against 1.8 million wooden rackets
1981Donnay produces the most racquets in the world
1983Björn Borg suddenly retires from tennis
1984Donnay continues producing wooden rackets until this year
1987Donnay hires its first marketing manager
1988Donnay declares bankruptcy with $35 million of debt
1989Andre Agassi is signed by Donnay
1992Andre Agassi wins Wimbledon using a Donnay Pro One racket
2001Donnay is acquired by Babolat