Complimentary water bottles distributed at Wimbledon have sparked an extraordinary online black market, with some bottles fetching up to £1000 on resale platforms.
The exclusive Evian bottles, unavailable for official purchase, were provided free to tennis players, media personnel and ball boys and girls during the Championships. However, dozens have subsequently appeared on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
The most sought-after items are those allegedly used by prominent players. Bottles supposedly drunk from by British No1 Jack Draper and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic have attracted particularly high prices.
The phenomenon has created what one source described as a "shady and bizarre black market" for the plastic flick-cap containers, which feature players' name stickers and cannot be obtained through conventional retail channels.
The bottles were only made available to the players and the media
PA
Each player at Wimbledon receives three of the 700ml bottles to share with their coaching teams. The containers have become highly coveted items online, with more than 50 listed for sale across various platforms.
A bottle allegedly used by Draper during his match against Marin Cilic last week sold for £188. The listing featured a photograph of the 23-year-old drinking from the bottle on court, with his name sticker visible on the container.
JUST IN: Christian Horner 'threatened by Red Bull owner' days before sacking
Another bottle, supposedly used by Italian world No22 Flavio Cobolli during his match against Djokovic, was listed for £207.68. An anonymous eBay seller also demanded £154 for a bottle they claimed had been "used by Novak Djokovic" himself.
The most extreme example involves doubles player Guillermo Duran, whose bottle carried a £1,000 'buy it now' price despite the Argentine never playing a match at SW19 after his partner withdrew before the first round.
READ MORE: Cole Palmer makes Donald Trump admission as footage from Club World Cup win goes viral
A bottle that claims to have been used by Jack Draper sold for £188
Getty
The surge in online listings has raised serious concerns about the source of these bottles. Fears have emerged that staff members with access to restricted areas might be exploiting their positions for financial gain.
"The surge in sales has sparked fears that some staff may be swiping bottles from the Wimbledon media room or players' lounge to flog online and spin a profit," according to reports.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
The bottles' exclusivity and connection to tennis stars have transformed ordinary plastic containers into lucrative collectibles, creating an unexpected secondary market around the Championships.
The practice has exposed potential security vulnerabilities at the All England Club, where staff members have privileged access to areas containing the exclusive bottles.
A bottle is being listed for £1000
Getty
With legitimate channels for obtaining the containers non-existent, the black market appears to be thriving on items that should never have left the grounds. The bottles distributed to players, reporters and support staff were intended for immediate use during the tournament.
The scale of the operation, with over 50 bottles appearing online, suggests this isn't merely opportunistic behaviour by a few individuals. The systematic nature of the listings, complete with photographic evidence and specific match details, indicates a more organised effort to capitalise on tennis fans' desire for exclusive memorabilia.