Overview

• Sotheby’s confirmed the $88,900 sale as the highest price paid for a tennis ball at public auction.
• The ball ended the Sept. 7 final with a 131-mph ace against Jannik Sinner and was authenticated on court before listing.
• The online sale ran from Sept. 4 through Tuesday as part of a 29-lot U.S. Open auction that included balls, rackets, apparel and shoes.
• Other Alcaraz items also drew strong bids, including $57,150 for signed semifinal shoes and $31,750 for a semifinal match-point ball.
• The result dwarfs recent comparables, including Serena Williams’ 2013 final-point ball at $9,525 and Alcaraz’s 2022 title-point ball at $1,574.