Need to know
The Wimbledon men’s singles trophy design has tennis fans scratching their head due to the inclusion of a small, gold pineapple on top
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
15:00, 12 Jul 2026
The Wimbledon men’s trophy has left many fans questioning why there’s a pineapple attached(Image: Getty)
Everything you need to know about Wimbledon trophy design:
- Current trophy history: The current Wimbledon’s Gentlemen’s Singles cup has been handed out to the men’s winner every year since 1887. The All England Club actually had to create this third version because William Renshaw kept winning the previous trophies outright and taking them home for good.
- Pineapple addition: If you look closely at the top of the shiny silver-gilt masterpiece, you’ll spot a tiny, golden pineapple sitting front and centre. It sounds crazy now, but back in the Victorian era, this tropical fruit was the ultimate flex of position and symbolised massive wealth, hospitality and high status.
- Status symbol: Growing pineapples in the damp British climate during the 1700s was nearly impossible, meaning they had to be shipped in at a ridiculous cost. Showcasing one at your dinner party basically told everyone that you belonged to the absolute richest tier of society.
- 2025 winner: The 2025 tournament wrapped up with Jannik Sinner snagging his maiden Wimbledon singles title after a gripping four-set showdown against defending champ Carlos Alcaraz. That epic win meant the Italian sensation finally got his hands on the legendary Gentlemen’s Singles Challenge Cup.
- Maritime theory: There is also a theory tied to British sailors, claiming returning sea captains used to stick pineapples on their fences to announce they had made it home safely. That strong connection to welcoming guests made the fruit a perfect match for a classy, hospitable tournament like Wimbledon.
- Class explanation: Slapping a pineapple on the trophy was a deliberate move by the designers to associate the tennis championship with upper-class British luxury. They wanted everyone to know that conquering Wimbledon was a massive deal, on par with owning the most expensive item money could buy at the time.
- Trophy destination: You might think winning the toughest tournament in the world means you get to keep the hardware but modern champs actually have to give the real trophy back. Once they finish taking photos on the grass and showing it off at the champions’ dinner, the legendary cup returns to the club’s possession.
- Replica reward: The authentic trophy then gets a good polish and spends the rest of the year locked safely behind glass at the Wimbledon museum. Luckily, the winner doesn’t go home completely empty-handed since they receive a stunning three-quarter-sized replica engraved with the names of all the past champions.
READ MORE: Wimbledon pay British tennis flops £800k in prize money despite humiliating first day
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