The tennis world has been granted the Wimbledon final matchup we all dreamt about: Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz.
The final will mark the pair’s sixth overall meeting (Djokovic leads 3-2) and third at the Grand Slam level. In 2023, Djokovic dispatched Alcaraz in four sets in the French Open semifinals, only to be usurped from his Wimbledon throne by Alcaraz one month later in a five-set epic.
No matter Sunday’s result, should anything come to auction — rackets, kits, sneakers — the collectibles world could witness an all-time tennis showcase.
Djokovic-Alcaraz Wimbledon Final will be the most expensive get-in finals tickets in the history of sports.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 12, 2024
Right now, WORST SEAT for Sunday is more than $10,000.
Roger Federer is always associated as the king of grass, and thus king of Wimbledon. But if Novak Djokovic were to triumph, he would tie Federer’s men’s record with eight titles. More importantly than the Wimbledon record, though, Djokovic would become tennis’ all-time leader in Grand Slams, with 25. While Djokovic does hold the record in the Open Era (beginning in 1968), he is tied with Margaret Court historically, who also won 24, though most came before 1968.
Regardless, whether it be men or women, winning 25 slams has always been seen as an impossible feat. Just 20 years ago, many thought Pete Sampras’ 14 would never be touched on the men’s side, only for it to be demolished by Djokovic (24), Rafael Nadal (22) and Federer (20).
But 25 still seemed otherworldly, even when Federer reached 20 in 2018 and Nadal reached 22 in 2022.
If Djokovic were to breach that elusive territory, we could see unprecedented memorabilia prices.
Currently, the most expensive tennis racket ever publicly sold is Rafael Nadal's 2022 Australian Open Final racket, selling for $139,700, with Billie Jean King's Battle of the Sexes racket close behind at $125,000.
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/nadals-french-open-winning-racquet-fetches-highest-bid-2869518
But that record could be in jeopardy, said Matt Cashin, founder of tennis auction house Prestige Memorabilia.
“I think that would be the most expensive racket ever sold,” Cashin said, assuming there is proper photo-matching. “It’s got to be at least $150,000.”
Though, that racket still likely wouldn’t eclipse some Nadal and Federer rackets, were they to come to auction, Cashin said, adding those two are simply more loved in the tennis world than Djokovic and have fan bases that would pay a higher premium.
The following are what I believe to be the five most important racquets in men’s tennis history. Should Djokovic reach 25, he would take over the fourth spot.
1. Nadal: 2008 Wimbledon final vs Federer
Many regard this as the greatest match in tennis history, and perhaps the single-most iconic. In his third attempt to take down Federer at Wimbledon, Nadal finally completed his quest in an epic 9-7 fifth set that proved he was the best player in the world.
2. Arthur Ashe: 1968 U.S. Open final vs Tom Okker
Ashe, a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army at the time, became the first Black man to win a major and did it on U.S. soil in the first year of the Open Era. There’s a reason the biggest tennis stadium in the world is now called “Arthur Ashe Stadium."
3. Roger Federer: 2009 French Open final vs Robin Soderling
Federer’s run from 2003-08 was something tennis had never seen before, winning 13 slams in five seasons. (For perspective, Sampras, who held the record with 14 slams at the time, accomplished the feat over 13 years.)
Yet, Federer was never able to capture a French Open title, losing to Nadal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Finally, in 2009, he didn’t have to face Nadal, who lost to Soderling in perhaps the greatest upset in tennis history. Federer defeated Soderling in four sets in the final, completing the career grand slam and tying Sampras at 14 slams, only to break the record one month later at Wimbledon.
4. Bjorn Borg: 1980 Wimbledon final vs John McEnroe
Prior to Nadal and Federer’s 2008 Wimbledon final, 1980 was seen as the pinnacle of greatness in the sport. Bjorg won his fifth consecutive Wimbledon, winning the fifth set vs McEnroe 8-6.
The Bjorg-McEnroe rivalry was the men’s greatest drama in the sport until Nadal came along to push Federer, and the 1980 Wimbledon final is the finest moment of that incredible rivalry. Plus, Bjorg’s retirement at the age of 26, adds that much more mystique to his career.
5. Rod Laver: 1969 U.S. Open final vs Tony Roche
While many doubted Laver’s 1962 calendar slam, since the Open Era had not come to fruition yet, no one could challenge the difficulty of the feat in 1969, as Laver won all four majors.
Laver remains a legendary figurehead in the sport, being the only man to accomplish this in the Open Era, the greatest single-season mark in history.
Should Alcaraz win, there is no round number or record number, as is the case with Djokovic. This would mark his second Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam, but the numbers matter little, as Alcaraz has been arguably the most popular player in the world for the last three calendar seasons.
After Alcaraz won Indian Wells in March, former World No. 1 Mats Wilander told Eurosport he believes Alcaraz is the most beloved player in the sport since Federer in the mid 2000s.
From a memorabilia perspective, the most expensive Alcaraz card ever sold was $32,400, over $7,000 more than the most expensive Nadal card.
He is a phenom in every sense of the word, and his star power alone would carry a racket above the six-figure range. But there’s also novelty. There has never been a photo-matched Alcaraz racket sold.
The first one is actually happening next week, Cashin said, as his own Prestige Memorabilia, where an Alcaraz racquet from his 2022 Madrid Open title run is up for sale, a tournament in which he became the first player in history to beat Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back on clay. Following that accomplishment, he then torched Alexander Zverev in the final.
“That was when everyone was like, 'OK, this guy’s an absolute star,’” Cashin said. “Unlike someone we've seen since the big three.”
No matter Sunday’s winner, Cashin said, either racket should exceed $100,000, with kits and sneakers both exceeding $50,000 a piece.
There is also no guarantee any of these potential pieces will come to auction, but if they do, someone will pay a hefty price for greatness.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.