The Wimbledon Championship is an annual tennis tournament that takes place at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London. It began in 1877, making it the oldest of the four grand slams every year. Wimbledon is widely considered the most prestigious tennis event in the calendar year due to its longevity. Also, it is a great admiration for tennis players. We take a look at the Wimbledon Trophy given to the men’s singles champion every year. Additionally, we will explain the Dish handed to the women’s single champion.
The current men’s singles trophy was first presented back in 1887. However, before it, there were two trophies called the Field Cup and the Champions Cup. William Renshaw has retained both of them, who had won the singles event three times in a row.
Wimbledon Trophy Material and Structure
The trophy handed to the men’s singles champion every year comes in a Cup shape. It stands 18.5″ inches tall with a diameter of 7.5″. The cup comes in the classic style with two handles on the sides. Besides, a lid on top is present, along with a raised foot at the bottom. There is a pineapple-shaped structure at the top of the lid, giving it a very unique look. The cup itself is made of silver gilt.
The cup comes with the writing “The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single-Handed Champion of the World.” Around the bowl, the dates and names of the past champions are engraved.
Wimbledon Championship Trophy History
The story of the Wimbledon Championship trophy is interesting. The first trophy ever presented to a singles champion was called Field Cup (1877 to 1883). However, at that time, there was a rule that a player who wins the trophies three times in a row gets to keep it, and William Renshaw did exactly that, forcing authorities to introduce a new one called Challenge Cup (1884-86). William Renshaw won that trophy outright as well, winning the Wimbledon singles title three times in a row.
From 1887, a new rule was devised ensuring trophies would never become the property of the champion, and since then, we have our Wimbledon Championship Trophy, which saw a slight change in 2009 as they ran out of place to engrave winners’ names. A black plinth has been handed out with the trophy since 2009, which has the names and dates of past champions.
Wimbledon also has a women’s singles event about the men’s trophy, which is as prominent today as the men’s game, which was not the case a century ago. In the traditional British style of gender inequality at that time, Women’s singles champions were handed out a dish instead of a trophy/cup. It is now widely called “Venus Rosewater Dish.”
Wimbledon Women’s Singles Trophy – (Venus Rosewater Dish)
Venus Rosewater Dish is handed to the Ladies’ singles event winner at Wimbledon every year. It was first presented back in 1886. It is also made of sterling silver and has become one of the most iconic sports trophies for women.
The dish is designed with a mythological decoration and pure sterling silver with an 18.7″ diameter. The central figure is of temperance, with a light lamp in her right hand and a jug in her left hand.
