Jannik Sinner has symbolically returned the Wimbledon men's singles trophy to the All England Club as he gears up to defend his title. The Italian triumphed in SW19 for the very first time last year, becoming the first from his country to win the men's singles title when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.
Tradition of the Trophy
The All England Club spent 100 guineas to buy the current silver-gilt cup in 1887 and passed a new rule that same year. The cup would remain the club's permanent property, and future winners would simply receive a replica. Once the tournament ends, the real trophy is returned to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. The champion's name is engraved on the silverware immediately after they win, and they can show it off at the Champions Dinner that evening. Replicas, introduced in 1949, are 13.5 inches tall, compared to the 18-inch real trophy. After beating Alcaraz in 2025, Sinner walked away with one of these replicas.
Symbolic Return
As he prepares to retain his title, Sinner met with Debbie Jevans CBE, the chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, to iconically 'return' the prize he won. He was likely given the real thing for a short time to give it back as if he were relinquishing his title. Jevans greeted Sinner by suggesting it was unfortunate that he'd have to give up the crown, but hinted it may not be long until he gets to lift the real trophy again. She said in a video for Stan Sport: "You have to give it back! Thank you and I'm sorry. Hopefully only for a few weeks! You look as if you're pleased to get rid of it."
Alcaraz Absence Boosts Sinner's Chances
The suggestion that it may only be a few weeks until Sinner touches the trophy again stems from the fact that Alcaraz, his main rival for the 2026 title, will not participate this year due to injury. Sinner is therefore a heavy favourite to go back-to-back, but he claims he will not approach this Grand Slam any differently. He told Vogue: "I approach it in the same way. I always say we don't defend, we always try to go for it, and hopefully we can do that. I know it's a long tournament. How I start is going to be very important. I haven't played any matches on grass, so the first match, or the first few matches, are going to be difficult. But if I'm able to get through them, I know the confidence on grass can come back and the good feelings as well."
