Women's US Open champions now receive an identical replica of the trophy awarded to male winners.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has made a significant move towards promoting equality in tennis, announcing that the replica trophies for the women's singles champions will now be of the same size as the men's trophies.
This change, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the tournament's 1973 move to pay equal prize money to women and men, was revealed by U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster.
"The USTA is intentional about promoting equality in all aspects, including the champion's trophies," Allaster said.
Tiffany & Co. created replicas for the women to match the size of the men's trophies in 2021. The replica hardware for Coco Gauff's 2023 U.S. Open win is 191⁄2 inches tall, the same as both the original and keepsake men's trophies.
However, Gauff was surprised by the size of the replica trophy she received, as she had expected it to be the same size as the one she received for winning the U.S. Open. The replica trophy used in the postmatch ceremony is significantly smaller than the one she took home.
Billie Jean King, who urged the move to pay equal prize money, was not aware of the switch to equal-sized replica trophies until asked about it by the AP. King expressed her approval of the change, stating it sends positive messaging about the importance of women in tennis.
"It indicates that women's trophies matter just as much as the men's," King said.
The original women's trophy is displayed in a locked glass box during the tournament. There was a conversation about creating a new women's singles champion's trophy, but the decision was made to stay with the original trophy.
Chief executive of professional tennis at the USTA, Allaster, stated that the change is fantastic and equal. King echoed this sentiment, stating that it is a step in the right direction for women's tennis.
Coco Gauff, who won the 2023 U.S. Open, will now take home a 12-inch-tall copy of the trophy, just like her male counterparts. This change is sure to be celebrated by tennis fans and players alike as a symbol of the ongoing commitment to gender equality in the sport.
