Featured Image Credit: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Image
Topics: Wimbledon, Sport, UK News, Kate Middleton
Ella Scott
Topics: Wimbledon, Sport, UK News, Kate Middleton
Iga Świątek cruised her way to her first Wimbledon victory this weekend, but a little-known ‘rule’ unfortunately prevented her from taking her deserved Singles trophy home with her.
24-year-old Świątek reigned victorious on Saturday (12 July), denying American tennis star Amanda Anisimova, 23, a single game with her stunning 6-0, 6-0 victory.
This is the first time in the Open Era that the Wimbledon Championships title has been won with a double bagel, with the last straight-set victory coming in 1911 when Dorothea Lambert Chambers won over Dora Boothby.
Świątek's thrashing of Anisimova also marks the first Grand Slam final decided by a double bagel in the Open Era since the legendary Steffi Graf defeated Natasha Zverev at the 1988 French Open.
Advert
The historic Wimbledon Women’s Singles feat took the Polish sportswoman just 57 minutes to complete.
.jpg)
The former No. 1 now has six Grand Slams under her belt: one at Wimbledon, one at the US Open and four at the French Open. She now only needs to triumph at the Australian Open to complete a Career Grand Slam.
After winning Wimbledon 2025 on Centre Court, Świątek was presented with the iconic Venus Rosewater Dish by Kate Middleton, 43.
Advert
Unfortunately, much like other Wimbledon champions of the past, Świątek has not been allowed to take the gong home.
Marion Bartoli, who won Wimbledon in 2013, spoke to the BBC about why the Pole had the Venus Rosewater Dish snatched from her grasp.
“She can’t keep it. You only get a replica of it. This one goes back into the trophy gallery,” the 40-year-old told broadcasters Clare Balding, 54, and Tracy Austin, 62.
Advert
“You will have it at the Champions Ball in your hand again, then it will go back to the trophy gallery. You don’t go back home with that trophy, there is only one place and it stays in the trophy gallery at Wimbledon.”
Bartoli was later asked to divulge more details about the silver basin’s replica.
“It's three-quarters size, but all the names are engraved, all the names of the past champions who have graced that court before you are engraved with the replica you can take home,” she added.
“But it’s only three-quarters size. But it’s still beautiful.”
Advert
A replica trophy row ensued earlier this year when Coco Gauff revealed how ‘small’ her take-home prize was after winning the 2025 French Open.
The 21-year-old defeated Top Seed Aryna Sabalenka, 27, in the Roland Garros final in June and was initially handed the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
The trophy, named after six-time French Open winner Suzanne Lenglen, is designed by famous Parisian jewellers La Maison Mellerio - but it isn’t the award Gauff got to take home.
Advert
In a video posted to TikTok, the Grand Slam champion could be seen posing with a scaled-down version of the gong.
“This is the one we take home. It’s like a mini replica of the trophy. It’s… Really small,” she said.
Ex-tennis star Andy Murray, 38, was quick to hit out at the size of Gauff’s trophy.
The former World No.1 shared a clip of American talk show host Jimmy Fallon praising Gauff on his Instagram Story, and wrote beside it: “Surely the tennis majors can do a better job with the replica trophies!? They are tiny.”