Serena Williams's Racket Could Fetch $50K At Auction After Ball Boy Sells It For $500

BY Erika Marie 4.7K Views
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Serena Williams
He's kicking himself.

A ball boy is suffering from major regret after learning that a tennis racket he once owned is about to fetch big bucks at auction. Justin Arrington-Holmes was a ball boy during the 2018 U.S. Open final match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. During the match, a frustrated Serena threw her racket onto the court with enough force to break it. Later, Justin asked the world-renowned tennis champion if he could keep her dented racket, and she told him she didn't mind.

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While many would have either held onto the item and kept it in pristine condition or sold it for a nice chunk of change, it seems as if Justin placed it away. According to Newser, Justin was doing a bit of Spring cleaning and over the Summer he sold it to a collectibles store in New York City for $500. An employee of the unnamed shop knew its value and soon resold it.

Now the racket will be sold via Goldin Auctions and it projected to fetch around $10K, although the auction house's owner, Ken Goldin, reportedly told the New York Times that it could go for upwards of $50K. "I wish I'd had someone help me with the process," Justin said after learning that he undersold himself. The ball boy reportedly told the Times that he hopes that the seller will donate some of the money to a charity, adding "I just hope they are looking out for the greater good." 


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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