On July 9, 1877, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club hosted the first-ever Wimbledon Championship, making it the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Unlike other Grand Slams, Wimbledon has maintained its traditions for over a century—the grass courts, the all-white dress code for players, and, of course, strawberries and cream.
This history, combined with the tournament’s prestigious reputation and the world-famous players who have played on its courts, has given Wimbledon a legendary status—and with it, a rich collecting market, from match-used rackets wielded by tennis greats to rare autographed memorabilia. The most visible and commonly auctioned items tend to come from the modern era, but determined collectors can find items from all across the tournament’s long history.
Match-Used Items
Perhaps the most coveted category of Wimbledon collectibles consists of items actually used during tournament play. These often go for thousands of dollars, though any purchase will, of course, need authentication. It’s always best to buy from a reputable auction house that will have checked items beforehand.
The legendary Serena Williams is known for smashing her rackets in moments of frustration (sometimes incurring costly fines as a result). She has destroyed seventy-two rackets in her career to date. One of the more unique match-worn items put up for auction was a racket smashed by Williams at Wimbledon in 2005, when she lost her first set against Angela Haynes. The wrecked racket, which Williams handed to a fan in the crowd during the event, went up for auction in 2020 and sold for just over $4,600.
Other rackets associated with Wimbledon have also sold for thousands. A racket used by Rafael Nadal in his memorable 2008 campaign went for nearly $12,660 in 2024, and another (non-wrecked) racket used by Williams in 2010 sold for $2,928, also in 2024.
Beyond rackets, match-worn clothing can be highly collectible too, especially if autographed. Trainers worn (and signed) by superstar player Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon 2015 sold for over $11,500 in 2024. A shirt worn by Roger Federer in the 2017 tournament went for a similar price at $12,360 in 2023.
Items from older tournaments are available for collectors interested in Wimbledon’s long history. A signed racket used by Martina Navratilova in Wimbledon 1988 sold for $4,446 in 2017, though the price has surely increased since.
Collectible Autograph Cards
Tennis cards may not have the same incredible history as baseball cards, but there have been a few, notably NetPro’s 2003 set, which contains some of the rarest tennis cards ever produced.
Graded, rare, and authenticated cards signed by legendary players will always fetch a lot of money. A card from the 2003 NetPro set signed by both Williams sisters sold for nearly $4,000 in 2021. Even an unsigned card from a rare set in mint condition can sell for thousands, though, as another card from the NetPro 2003 set did, depicting Serena Williams lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory.
There are less rare, more affordable cards that nonetheless commemorate iconic victories and bear the signatures of champions. A card produced in 2011 to commemorate Wimbledon 2005, depicting and signed by Roger Federer, went for over $300 last year.
Other Collectibles
There’s plenty of other memorabilia on offer for Wimbledon fans without the cash to splash on costly match-worn items or the rarest cards. An easy—and sometimes relatively cheap—way of owning signed items is to look to things such as official Wimbledon posters. A 1997 poster signed by players such as Tim Henman and Boris Becker sold for $671 in 2024—a bargain considering the signatures involved.
Any item associated with the tournament itself, especially if signed, is a collectible. Programs are one such item—a 1992 program bearing the autographs of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf (the champions of that year) once sold for several hundred dollars.
Wimbledon’s popularity means a great deal of merchandise is produced and can be picked up cheaply. However, any such item with an autograph will increase in value. A Wimbledon hat (which itself costs mere dollars) sold for over $300 this year, thanks to the signature of women’s tennis pioneer Billie Jean King.
One notable sale was a photograph signed by nineteen Wimbledon champions (including Bjorg, the Williams sisters, Djokovic, Federer, and many more) that sold for $2,500 in 2019.
A particularly poignant auction was that of the 1960 Wimbledon Men’s Doubles trophy, awarded to Rafael Osuna. Osuna sadly died at the age of thirty in a plane crash in his native Mexico, and the trophy, made of sterling silver, was purchased many years later from his family. It fetched over $26,000 at auction.
The market for Wimbledon collectibles is growing fast, especially as a new generation of players takes to the iconic grass courts. Collectors and tennis fans should look for items signed by up-and-coming players, as some are sure to become future champions.
Matthew Doherty is a writer, editor, and teacher specializing in all things history-related. His work has been published in the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from the University of Leeds. In his spare time, he also writes science fiction stories.
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