Roger Federer: How I made Wimbledon change the replica trophy size
ROGER FEDERER has revealed how he made Wimbledon organisers give winners a bigger replica trophy.
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The Gentlemen's Singles Championship was first presented by the All England Club in 1887.
It is made of silver gilt, is 18 inches high and has a diameter of 7.5 inches with an inscription that reads: “The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World.”
After lifting the trophy on Centre Court, the champions will later receive a three-quarter size replica of the Cup (13.5 inches high).
Federer has won the coveted title eight times and will begin his campaign for a ninth on Monday.
The winners get a replica only 25% smaller than the original trophy. This change was actually initiated by me. Some years ago the organisers agreed going forward to have that larger size
And ahead of the event, Federer says he asked the Wimbledon organisers to give the champions a bigger version of trophy, describing the previous replica as “very small”.
“In the past the replica was very small,” he said in an interview with Credit Suisse.
“Now, the winners get a replica only 25% smaller than the original trophy. This change was actually initiated by me. Some years ago the organisers agreed going forward to have that larger size.
“With one exception, I had to pay myself for the replicas of the previous trophies. But it was worth it. I like to have life-size replicas with the names of the past champions engraved on them.
“So, although I won Wimbledon eight times, I have more than eight trophies at home because I also keep the smaller ones. It feels like I have 'won' Wimbledon twelve times.”
Federer also gave an insight to his astonishing trophy cabinet which holds his 99 career titles.
He said: “The big ones are at the back and the small ones are at the front and the junior ones are flanking them. It's an amazing trophy cabinet, of course.
“You know, I don't look at them every day but when people come to visit they are like 'oh my God, this is so crazy!'. And that's when it hits you too that it is very, very special.”