One of the most coveted cards from the newly released 2024 Topps Royalty Tennis set — the most high-end tennis cards ever produced — sold Thursday night at Fanatics Collect for a record price.
The Carlos Alcaraz Racket Knob Relic Auto 1/1 fetched $222,000 to set a record not only for any Alcaraz card (surpassing his previous record of $33,665) but also for any male tennis card (surpassing the previous record held by Roger Federer of $181,200).
Serena Williams still holds the mark for the most expensive tennis card ever sold at $266,400.
The card features an embedded relic of a racket knob used in the 2024 Indian Wells Open, which Alcaraz won, defeating Daniel Medvedev, 7-6, 6-1.
The card is signed and inscribed “2024 Indian Wells Champ.”
This sale is the first time the chase card has sold publicly and comes shortly after Alcaraz prevailed in a five-set comeback victory against Jannik Sinner in the finals of the French Open.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible content.