Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin / Photo credit: Mehdi Taamallah / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
Who from Iga Swiatek or Karolina Muchova will win the highly prized Suzanne-Lenglen Cup promised to the winner of Roland-Garros 2023? A symbolic object so desired by players, this trophy has evolved. Named after the former French tennis player who revolutionized her sport, here is everything you need to know about it.
A trophy, but also a true work of art, the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup, awarded to the winner of Roland-Garros, is synonymous with success for any tennis player. Promised to the winner of the final between Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova on the Philippe Chatrier court, who are to face off this Saturday from 3 p.m., this reward has not always existed in the history of the legendary Parisian tournament.
However, this trophy did not always bear the name “Suzanne-Lenglen”. It has actually only existed since 1979. It was on this date that the organizers of the Grand Slam decided to attribute to the object the name of the one nicknamed “the Divine”, winner of the first edition. the French Open in 1925, which became “Roland-Garros” two years later. Tennis champion, both sportingly and socially, Suzanne-Lenglen has marked the history of her sport.
Replica with reduced dimensions
Suzanne Lenglen (1899-1938) is considered one of the most iconic players in her sport. By winning the Roland-Garros tournament six times, she left her mark on the history of the Porte d’Auteuil tournament. With ample gestures, but also elegance and modernity in clothing, the Frenchwoman has contributed to the development of women’s rights in tennis to the point of inspiring the Musketeers.
The current cup, which will be awarded at the end of the women’s final this Saturday afternoon, is a replica of another cup, the one which was offered by the city of Nice to Suzanne Lenglen in tribute to her immense career. But the family of the former tennis champion had finally chosen to leave the object at the National Sports Museum to be able to exhibit it. Between 1979 and 1985, the trophy was taken out of its showcase to be symbolically awarded to each winner of Roland-Garros. It was not until 1986 that the French Tennis Federation finally decided to make a replica, smaller in size than the original, for each winner of the tournament. These replicas are made by La Maison Mellerio, a famous jeweler in Paris since the 17th century.