FANS are only just realising how long Wimbledon champions get to keep the trophy for.
For anyone who plays tennis, reigning supreme at the All England Club on finals weekend in July is the pinnacle.
The Wimbledon trophy is one of the most iconic in sport
Marion Bartoli was crowned ladies’ singles champion in 2013
For the men, to get their hands on the iconic Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy – lifted a record eight times by Roger Federer.
And for the women, the prize is the Venus Rosewater Dish.
In many sports, the champion gets to keep hold of the trophy until the next event – such as The Open golf tournament and its Claret Jug.
But for the winners of Wimbledon, they get their hands on it for just a few moments.
That is because the official trophies do not leave the All England Club – but stay on site permanently in SW19.
For virtually the entire year, they are housed safely in the Wimbledon Museum – and then brought out to be presented to the tennis champions on Centre Court.
However, after posing for the photos, the Grand Slam winner must hand it back to Wimbledon – and in return receive a replica trophy three-quarters of the size that they can take home and place on the mantlepiece.
Marion Bartoli won Wimbledon in 2013 – and she revealed the process to BBC 5 Live.
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Bartoli said: “There is only one Wimbledon trophy that is kept in the trophy gallery – the women’s on one side and the men’s on the other.
“That’s the trophy the player gets to have in their hands only one time when you’re on the court and the winner.
“What happens after that if you give the trophy back. Outside of that, they give you the replica which is three-quarters of the size of the real trophy.
“So it felt like you worked 22 years to get it and it goes like this [clicks].
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“If you want to have it again, you have to win it again.”
Wimbledon chiefs introduced the rule to keep hold of the cup to keep down costs after giving the Field Cup and the Challenge Cup to William Renshaw.
Brit Renshaw won a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles from 1881 to 1883 and then a further treble for the next three years until 1886.
The Warwickshire star added a seventh singles crown in 1889, beating his twin Ernest for the third time in the final – the brothers also won five doubles titles at Wimbledon together.
And it is the same trophy – first used in 1887 – that has been held aloft by the likes of Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Standing at 18 inches tall, it is made of silver gilt, has a pineapple on top and is inscribed with: “The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World”.
The women’s trophy is a sterling silver salver and is 18.75 inches in diameter.
Andy Murray and Bartoli only got to hold the real trophies for a few moments
Champions are given a three-quarter-sized replica to keep
