Serena Williams' racket from the US Open scandal match is up for auction
The racket that shattered Serena Williams in the US Open Final 2018 against Naomi Osaka, is currently being offered in an auction.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Nov 30, 2019, 05:05 pm
Do you want to have the racket that destroyed one of the biggest sports dramas? Then hit now!
Short flashback. In the finals of the US Open 2018 against Naomi Osaka Serena Williams had already caught a warning for unauthorized coaching, and when she hacked after a mistake her bat, she punished referee Carlos Ramos with a point deduction. A subsequent discussion ("You're a thief!") brought Williams another game draw - and Osaka shortly thereafter their first major title.
The racket that destroyed Williams is now up for auction .
"I think the low end would be $10,000, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes to $25,000 or $50,000," Goldin Auctions, the founder of the auction house Goldin Auctions, told New York Times.
A gift from Serena Williams
Bitter: The racquet was actually owned by a ball boy after the match. Justin Arrington-Holmes, who was on the court during the match, had received the racket after Williams. "A lot of players are nice, but some, like Serena and Venus, care a little more and say hello and make an effort to learn your name and create a relationship," says Holmes, who has a photo with Williams after the game and was allowed to keep the bat.
However, Holmes, a student, brought him a few months later to a Manhattan store to get some college money - he received $ 500. "Looking back I wish I’d had someone help me with the process,” he said. “I was not familiar with how any of this works. I just wanted to get rid of it." He hopes that the current owner will not keep the entire amount after the auction. "They could give a few thousand to a charity or a place like Harlem Junior Tennis,” he said. “I just hope they are looking out for the greater good."
At the time of publication of this article, the bid was $ 9,000. The auction will run until 7th December.
If you want to join in here - here's the auction !