More than a year since the controversial U.S. Open final match between tennis legend Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka concluded, we hear about the clash once again. This time, it is due to the fact that the smashed racket produced during that game, which recently sold at a massive $20,400.
Goldin Auctions put up the broken racket for auction, with bids starting at $2,000. It was sold on Saturday, December 07, with the buyer’s premium already included.
Goldin Auctions is famous for selling major sports memorabilia online. Other previous items that were sold through the auction include Jesse Owens’ Olympic gold medal, a signed 1984 check from Michael Jordan, and several LeBron James jerseys.
Where was the racket kept before the auction?
Before the smashed racket made its way to Goldin Auctions, it was with pre-med Boston College student Justin Arrington-Holmes. He was a ball boy during the 2018 US Open final and when he asked Williams to take a photo with him after the game, she gave him the racket. He eventually decided to keep it.
After being told that he should sell it, he approached Brigandi Coins and Collectibles. They were able to reach an agreement and he got rid of the broken racket for $500. After hearing the news that the smashed racket sold much more, the 22-year old student said that he should have realized how valuable the item could have been.
Controversial Williams vs Osaka match
In many ways, the smash tennis racket symbolized many things for both Williams and Osaka. The 2018 U.S. Open final was one of the times that Williams went closest to winning her record-tying 24th Grand Slam win.
The same match also ushered in Osaka’s rise, culminating in an Australian Open earlier this year. She also reached the peak of the world rankings, right after her successful stint in Melbourne Park.
Williams received a $17,000 fine for three code violations in the match, including racket abuse. She also clashed with umpire Carlos Ramos, after she demanded an apology for what she believed was unfair moderating.
Elite tennis’ history with rackets
Rackets sell big in the sports memorabilia industry. As an example, the racket Billie Jean King used when she won against Bobby Riggs in 1973 got sold for $125,000.
As far as broken rackets go, it is hardly the first time that a major tennis star got too handy with their racket. Williams herself experienced this during her U.S. Open final against Kim Clijsters in 2009. Roger Federer also confessed to breaking rackets out of frustration when he was younger.
Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.10, Serena Williams played her last match on the 7th of September when she capitulated to Bianca Vanessa Andreescu 6-3 7-5 in the final in U.S. Open.
Serena Williams’s best performance of this season was getting to the final in Wimbledon, Toronto and at the U.S. Open.
Osaka in Shenzhen, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.3, the Japanese has a 40-11 win-loss record in 2019.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka.
The last time that they fought against each other, Serena Williams won 6-3 6-4 in the quarter in Toronto in 09th August 2019.
Here the highlights.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka |
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