The red and white Wilson Six One Tour model raised $55,000 (£42,000/€46,000) at the online Goldin Auctions sale.

The figure is the most anyone has ever paid at auction for a racket used by a male player.

The highest previous price had been in 2007 when a collector paid $32,000 (£24,000/€27,000) for the wooden Slazenger racket Britain’s Fred Perry used in the final of Wimbledon in 1934 when he won the first of three consecutive singles titles.

The most a racket has raised at auction was two years ago when another Wilson model used by American legend Billie Jean King when she beat the world’s former number one men’s player and ex-Wimbledon and US Open champion, Bobby Riggs, at an exhibition match in Houston in 1973, sold for $125,000 (£95,000/€105,000)

The Donnay racket used by Sweden’s Björn Borg during his defeat against John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1981 was sold by Christie’s in London 13 years ago for $18,500 (£14,000/€15,00).

Last December, Goldin Auctions sold Serena Williams' smashed racket from her infamous 2018 US Open final defeat by Japan’s Naomi Osaka sold for $20,910 (£15,900/€17,500).

Federer’s racket included a letter of authenticity from his agent and Beckett Authentication for the autograph.

Goldin Auctions described it as "an incredible piece of tennis history".

At the final in Stade Roland Garros in Paris, Federer was trying to become the first male player in the Open era and only the third man overall to achieve a double career Grand Slam. 

Nadal was the defending champion and the Spaniard successfully defended his crown, defeating his long-time rival 7–5, 7–6, 5–7, 6–1 to claim the sixth French Open title of his career.

Federer also lost to Nadal in the finals of the French Open in 2007 and 2008 but did win the title in 2009, beating Sweden’s Robin Söderling 6-1,7-6, 6-4 in the final.

Overall, Federer has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles - tied for the most in history for a male player with Nadal.