U.S. Open now gives women’s singles champions replica trophies equal in size to men’s
Change follows longtime disparity highlighted by Coco Gauff’s social-media post about a noticeably smaller French Open keepsake
New York — The U.S. Tennis Association has for the first time given U.S. Open women’s singles champions a replica trophy the same size as the one used in on‑court presentations, ending a decades‑long practice in which the keepsake given to female winners was substantially smaller than the hardware taken home by men.
Coco Gauff drew public attention to the difference this year after posting a TikTok about the miniature version she received following her French Open victory. The video, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, showed the much smaller cup and prompted questions about trophy parity across the sport.
Gauff told The Associated Press she had assumed the keepsakes would be the same at different Grand Slams. "I honestly did not know the size it was going to be. ... I know you never really take the original, but when I won the U.S. Open, they gave me the same size (trophy), with my name engraved on it," she said. "So I just assumed that Roland Garros would be the same."
The replica given to the U.S. Open women’s champion in 2023 measures 19½ inches tall, matching the size of the original cup used in the postmatch ceremony. For decades prior, the replica presented to the women’s singles winner was noticeably smaller than the men’s keepsake, a difference that had gone largely unremarked outside of the sport until recent social‑media attention.
Tournament trophies are rarely taken from the stadiums; winners traditionally pose with the original cup on court and receive a replica to keep. The change at the U.S. Open means the souvenir matches the on‑court piece in scale, aligning the physical memento for women with what men have received.
The disparity and its correction come amid wider scrutiny of gender equity in sports, though tournament officials have described the U.S. Open decision as an update to match the established look of the trophy the public sees during the champion’s presentation. Tournament and U.S. Tennis Association representatives did not immediately provide additional comment beyond confirmation that the women’s replica introduced in 2023 matches the larger size.
Players and observers noted that differences in prize money have long been addressed — the four Grand Slams now award equal prize money in singles — but tangible symbols such as trophies can carry symbolic weight. Gauff’s social‑media post amplified that conversation by giving a visible, simple example of how trophies differed from event to event.
The move to provide identically sized keepsakes at the U.S. Open may prompt review at other tournaments. Roland‑Garros, Wimbledon and the Australian Open each have their own trophy traditions and presentation practices, and the visible conversation about Gauff’s trophy has led to renewed attention on those customs.
For players, the immediate effect is practical: the keepsake now more closely resembles the cup they lifted on court. For fans and commentators, it has become another data point in ongoing discussions about how tennis presents victories and treats its champions.
The U.S. Open change was first noted widely after Gauff’s video and subsequent reporting. Tournament organizers say the current replica reflects the traditional look of the championship cup and will continue to be provided to the women’s singles winner at future U.S. Opens.