Coco Gauff is looking to secure her first title since her French Open triumph this morning – and she will be hoping any silverware she takes home is better than her Roland Garros trophy. Gauff takes on fellow American Jessica Pegula in the Wuhan Open final after beating Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
However, the last time Gauff went home with a trophy she complained on social media that she was given a tiny replica much smaller than the one she lifted during the on-court ceremony. Even Andy Murray moaned that it was out of order!
Gauff won the second Major of her career at the French Open this summer, following on from her 2023 US Open success. The 21-year-old became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015.
As is the tradition following tournament victories, Gauff enjoyed a photoshoot where she hoisted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen – the trophy is named after French tennis icon Suzanne Lenglen who won six French Open titles from 1919 to 1925. However, upon her return home to Delray Beach, Florida, Gauff revealed to fans on social media that the silverware she takes home isn’t exactly the one she’s handed on the court post-victory.
Instead, the winner receives a much smaller replica of the trophy as the tennis star said on TikTok: “This is the trophy that you guys see. The one that we take pictures with, do press with and all that. But, actually, we don’t get to take this home. This stays with the tournament.”
Upon picking up the smaller trophy, she added: “This is the one we take home. It’s like a mini replica of the trophy. It’s… really small. That’s how small it is. But, you know, it’s the memories that matter the most.”
With Gauff’s video gaining traction online, Murray was one to take notice of her informational post as the three-time Grand Slam champion called out organisers of the tennis majors to create bigger trophies for the champions to take home. The 38-year-old wrote on social media: “Surely the tennis majors can do a better job with the replica trophies!?” before adding: “They are tiny.”
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While the handing of replica trophies to champions is normalcy in tennis, the French Open honours are the smallest replica honours of all four Grand Slams. Gauff will surely be hoping should she best Pegula in the Wuhan Open final on Sunday, she’ll be presented with a bigger trophy than she was awarded with for her victory in France.
It’s been a superb tournament for Gauff who has yet to drop a single set in the event but will be coming up against a fully confident Pegula, who ended Sabalenka’s historic 20-0 record in Wuhan to book her place in the final.
The 31-year-old also snapped her four-match losing streak against Aryna Sabalenka in her bid to claim a fourth career WTA 1000 title and first of 2025. Despite going a set down, the American only got stronger as the match went by and after claiming the second set, she came out on top in the decider which went to a tiebreak.
Speaking after her thrilling victory, Pegula said: “That was crazy. I can’t believe I came back and won that. I was clearly very nervous trying to serve it out. Lost my timing, lost my rhythm, trying to go for too muc. But I bounced right back in the tiebreak. I’m just really proud of myself.”
