Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup

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The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian Open women's singles draw since 1934, named after former Australian tennis player Daphne Akhurst and donated by the New South Wales Tennis Association. [1] [2] While the original trophy remains with Tennis Australia, each champion receives a replica to commemorate their victory. [3]

Contents

The original Australian Open women's singles trophy was retained by Daphne Akhurst after she managed to win this title for five times and, as tradition dictated, became the perpetual owner of the trophy. Because of that, the current trophy was created. [2]

The general public can view the trophy on display near the AO Game Hub in Garden Square at the afternoon during each edition of the tournament. [4]

The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (2015).jpg
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup

Trophy tour

Before each Australian Open, the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup goes on a “Trophy Tour” around Australia. It visits schools, clubs, and communities. In some editions, it's even traveled internationally—serving as a traveling ambassador of Australian tennis history. Between October 2024 and January 2025, the trophy was presented in 18 communities across the Australian state of Victoria. [5]

Confection

Since 2022, the crafting of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup has been entrusted to W.J. Sanders, a Sydney-based silversmith, in collaboration with ABC Bullion. The trophy is handcrafted from 100% Australian-sourced silver and adorned with pure gold embellishments, reflecting the nation's commitment to quality and tradition. This trophy stands 18 inches tall with a diameter of 7.5 centimeters. [6] Each replica presented to the champion is an exact full-scale version of the original perpetual trophy held by Tennis Australia.

Photo tradition

Following their victory, champions often participate in photo sessions with the trophy at iconic Melbourne locations. For instance, in 2025, Madison Keys was photographed with the cup at the Brighton Life Saving Club. [7]

Stories involving the trophy

The missing lid

In the early 1970s the trophy's ornate lid went missing after the Australian Open was held in Sydney in 1970 and 1971. The trophy was returned to Melbourne without its lid and for over a decade, champions posed with the lidless cup until it was rediscovered in a cupboard at the White City Tennis Stadium in Sydney around 1982. [2]

Engraving error on Victoria Azarenka's trophy

In 2013, after Victoria Azarenka defended her Australian Open title, an engraving mishap occurred. Her country code was incorrectly inscribed as “BEL” (Belgium) instead of “BLR” (Belarus). The error was later corrected. [8] [9]

Aryna Sabalenka's 2023 Trophy

In 2023 the name of the Australian Open women's singles champion, Aryna Sabalenka, was engraved on the trophy without her country designation, a departure from the tradition of including the winner's country in brackets. This was due to the fact she is from Belarus, which at that time was one of the countries along with Russia that were not being recognised by ITF, ATP and WTA because of the invasion of Ukraine. [10]

Historical winners

Madison Keys from the United States is the current winner of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Joan Hartigan, former Australian tennis player, was the first one to receive it. Former Australian tennis player Margaret Court has the record of winning this trophy for the most times, eleven in total. [11] [12]

Statistics

Since the introduction of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 1934, the following players have recorded the highest number of titles:

PlayerAmateur EraOpen EraAll-timeYears
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Margaret Smith Court  (AUS)7411 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973
Flag of the United States.svg  Serena Williams  (USA)077 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Nancye Wynne Bolton  (AUS)606 1937, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Evonne Goolagong  (AUS)044 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Dec)
Flag of Germany.svg  Steffi Graf  (GER)044 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg Flag of the United States.svg Monica Seles (YUG / FRY / USA)044 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Martina Hingis  (SUI)033 1997, 1998, 1999
Flag of the United States.svg  Martina Navratilova  (USA)033 1981, 1983, 1985
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Joan Hartigan Bathurst  (AUS) [a] 202 1934, 1936
Flag of Belarus.svg  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR)022 2012, 2013
Flag of the United States.svg  Jennifer Capriati  (USA)022 2001, 2002
Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Evert  (USA)022 1982, 1984
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Thelma Coyne Long  (AUS)202 1952, 1954
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Hana Mandlíková  (CZE)022 1980, 1987
Flag of Japan.svg  Naomi Osaka  (JPN)022 2019, 2021
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Mary Carter Reitano  (AUS)202 1956, 1959
Flag placeholder.svg Aryna Sabalenka [b] 022 2023, 2024

Notes

  1. ↑ Joan Hartigan also won the Australian Open women's singles title in 1933; however, that victory was awarded with a different trophy and is therefore not considered here.
  2. ↑ Aryna Sabalenka is from Belarus and won in 2023 and 2024, but was competing as a neutral competitor in both years because on 1 March 2022, the WTA announced that players from Belarus will not be allowed to compete under the name or flag of Belarus following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [13]

References

  1. ↑ Naughton, Richard (January 4, 2021). Daphne Akhurst: The woman behind the trophy. Forward: The Slattery Media Group.
  2. 1 2 3 "The mystery of the missing lid". ausopen.com. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Daphne Akhurst". Strathfield Heritage. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Pradhan, Prateek (2022-12-28). "All you need to know about the Australian Open Trophies". FirstSportz Tennis. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  5. ↑ "AO on the Road: Trophies on Tour". Tennis Victoria. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  6. ↑ Roy, Sayantan (27 January 2024). "Why Was The Australian Open Women's Singles Trophy Named The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup?". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "Australian Open in pictures: Day 15". Brisbane Times. 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Victoria Azarenka's Australian Open trophy has unfortunate error". SI. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Chase, Chris. "Victoria Azarenka's wrong country etched on Australian Open trophy". USA Today. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Sullivan, Matthew. "Detail missing from Aus Open champ Aryna Sabalenka's trophy in brutal snub". News.com.AU. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Who has won the most at the Australian Open? | AO". ausopen.com. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Keys tours Melbourne's Brighton Beach with AO trophy". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Tennis Europe". tenniseurope.org.
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