Here’s another sport that embodies Englishness that spawned heritage fashion brands, with some famous trophies too.
Wimbledon Trophies
London’s Wimbledon Championships remains the world’s most iconic lawn tennis tournament, and what any budding tennis player surely dreams of competing in. Held since 1887 and the only tennis major still on outdoor grass (yes rain does stop play), it was initially only open to amateurs.
The first men’s singles champion received a silver gilt cup inscribed with “The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World”. Around the bowl of the silver challenge cup are engraved names of the Champions and the date of the victory, with an additional black plinth added in 2009 so the name of winner Roger Federer could be added for his sixth title of record breaking eighth.
The women’s champion is awarded the Venus Rosewater Dish for their triumph, a sterling silver salver dating back to 1886.
These days the champions receive smaller replica versions while the originals stay at the All England Club, but the honour remains.
US Open, French Open & Australian Open
The other 3 Grand Slam trophies have their own unique design and cultural identity, but all are considered career-defining. From the clay of Roland-Garros to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, these trophies are the mark of an elite player.
The Australian Open Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (Men) and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (Women). The French Open has the Coupe des Mousquetaires (Men) and Coupe Suzanne Lenglen (Women).
To win all 4 majors in the same season is considered a Grand Slam. It was first done in 1938 by American Don Budge, although Englishman Fred Perry came close in 1934 with 3.
The legendary Australian Rod Laver repeated this in 1962 and 1969. Even the modern greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic only got three of the four in the same year. But that’s still an exclusive club, as in the 20th century only Mats Wilander, Jimmy Connors, Roy Emerson, Ashley Cooper, Tony Traber, Lew Hoad, Jack Crawford and the above mentioned Fred Perry achieved the feat.
Prestigious Non-Slam & Team Trophies
- The ATP Finals (Men’s Year-End Championship) is contested by the top 8 male singles players and doubles teams and often considered the “fifth major”.
- The WTA Finals Women’s Year-End Championship) is the elite showdown of top 8 women and includes the Martina Navratilova Trophy for singles winner.
- The Davis Cup (Men’s Team Tennis) is the largest international team competition in sport and often referred to as the “World Cup of Tennis”. The Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup, Women’s Team Tennis) is the equivalent for women’s national teams.
- The Laver Cup is a Team Europe vs Team World format, which is growing in prestige due to format and star participation.
