Condition 9
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor | Rarity 9
10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
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About The Lady Flex
Following Donnay’s huge success with “mens” rackets in the 1970s, Donnay experimented with a handful of beautiful new designs aim at women. Traditional wooden rackets weighed in up to 400g, so several manufacturers made lighter family friendly versions coming in around 350-370g. Donnay made the LadyFlex and the Elle. The result was two stunning rackets with a wonderful color scheme and ironically better handling and spin whilst still delivering good power and control. The truth is, these “women only” rackets were often better than their “mens” equivalent and provided some of the best all-round capabilities of any wooden racket of the time.
Specifications
Measurements | Value | Performance | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Weight | 370g | Power | 10/100 |
Length | 27inch | Control | 44/100 |
Balance | 5pt head heavy | Spin | 33/100 |
Grip | Perforated leather | Handling | 73/100 |
Strings | 18 x 20 | synthetic | Comfort | 87/100 |
Flexibility | RA 45 | Consistency | 44/100 |
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. Under new ownership, Donnay experienced a brief resurgence when they signed a young Andre Agassi between 1989 and 1992. Agassi’s victory at Wimbledon in 1992 using a Donnay Pro One racket seemed to signal a potential comeback for the brand. However, despite this success, Donnay continued to struggle financially and only lives on as a humble low-cost clothing brand available in Sports Direct stores.
Gallery
Donnay by Time
Year | Key Event |
---|---|
1885 | Emile Donnay is born |
1910 | Emile Donnay founds a woodworking company in Couvin, Belgium |
1913 | Donnay starts a side business manufacturing broomsticks for the coal mining industry |
1927 | New premises constructed in Couvin |
1934 | Donnay produces its first wooden tennis racket made from ash |
1950 | Donnay secures a deal to manufacture rackets for Wilson |
1969 | Donnay introduces the first steel tennis racket, the Donnay Argent |
1971 | Donnay’ sales top 1 million per year |
1973 | Wilson Sporting Goods drops Donnay as its contract tennis racket manufacturer |
1974 | Björn Borg wins his first Grand Slam at the French Open |
1975 | Donnay signs Björn Borg |
1978 | The Donnay Borg Pro racket, designed for Björn Borg becomes the biggest seller |
1980 | Donnay manufactures just 3,000 graphite rackets against 1.8 million wooden rackets |
1981 | Donnay produces the most racquets in the world |
1983 | Björn Borg suddenly retires from tennis |
1984 | Donnay continues producing wooden rackets until this year |
1987 | Donnay hires its first marketing manager |
1988 | Donnay declares bankruptcy with $35 million of debt |
1989 | Andre Agassi is signed by Donnay |
1992 | Andre Agassi wins Wimbledon using a Donnay Pro One racket |
2001 | Donnay is acquired by Babolat |