Record-breaking balls and rackets: when tennis becomes a legend

There is a gesture that has become a ritual, a moment awaited as much by fans in the stands as by those watching from home. At the end of a victory in a Grand Slam tournament, many tennis players sign their game balls and throw them to the audience, turning a simple match object into a fragment of history. These balls, signed by legends such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Jannick Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz are not just souvenirs, they are real pieces of sports memorabilia, capable of reaching quite astonishing figures among collectors. A ball signed immediately after a victory at the US Open or Wimbledon can be worth between 150 and 500 euros, depending on authenticity, context (final or other round), and of course the tennis player. Some balls, linked to epochal matches or legendary careers, can even exceed 1,000 euros, especially if accompanied by certification or photographic documentation.

Carlos Alcaraz a Wimbledon.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A ball signed by Carlos Alcaraz at the 2022 US Open, a turning point in his career when he mesmerised fans with a stellar performance. The then 19-year-old prodigy secured his first major title by defeating fifth-placed Norwegian Casper Ruud in a thrilling match that ended 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3. The signed ball, a Wilson Tennis Ball, from this victory was sold by Sotheby's in the Zenith Sports Artifacts auction in April 2024 for $1,524 from an estimate of between $500 and $1,000 and the lot was accompanied by a James Spence Authentication (JSA) letter regarding the signature.

Lower prices on Catawiki, where a ball signed by Jannik Sinner during the ATP Finals in Turin 2024 sold for 270 euros, while on eBay, the Italian tennis player's JSA-authenticated Australian Open 2024 win was selling for around $350.

Other more standard lots, i.e. not linked to major events, again with PSA or ACOA authentication, realised lower figures between 18 and 74 US dollars. These data show how the value depends on the context, authentication and link to important matches: a Sinner ball after a Slam final can reach and even exceed 300 euros, while a common one, even if authenticated, drops to a few tens of euros. In Italy, tennis memorabilia is offered by Bolaffi but there are still very few proposals and they mainly concern clothing, caps and balls at very low prices of less than 500 euros.

Rackets used during tournaments or historic moments are among the most sought-after pieces. The oldest rackets, such as those of Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi have a value that can fluctuate between $5,000 and $40,000, depending on the state of preservation and available documentation. In a Christie's auction in 2007, the racquet used by Bjorn Borg in the 1981 Wimbledon final won by John McEnroe fetched £13,200 from an estimate of between £5,000 and £8,000. A feature all of Borg's personal racquets had the 'D' printed on the strings. If, on the other hand, the interest is in a racquet used in matches by Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal the price can exceed $50,000. At Sotheby's in 2024, the racquet used by Djokovic when he beat his all-time rivalRoger Federer in the 2015 US Open final fetched $53,000 from an estimate of between $40,000 and $60,000.