Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup

Further information: Australian Open and List of Australian Open women's singles champions

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]

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

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]

• 
  Madison Keys, current holder of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup
• 
  Joan Bathurst, first winner of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup
• 
  Margaret Court, most times winner of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup
• 
  Daphne Akhurst, 5x Australian winner and the cup's namesake

See also

• Tennis portal
• Australia portal