The reason Wimbledon ladies' champion Iga Swiatek had her trophy taken away following her dominant win over Amanda Anisimova has been revealed.
Two weeks of action in SW19 all led to the Wimbledon ladies' champion on Saturday, as world no. 4 Swiatek faced off against America's Anisimova on centre court.
Despite the fact that she was able to produce a shock win over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, Anisimova couldn't keep up with Swiatek and brutally lost the match 6-0. 6-0.
Winning the final saw Swiatek takes home a cheque for £3,000,000, while Anisimova earned just over half this amount with £1,520,000.
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However, as she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time in her career, Swiatek was told that she would not be allowed to keep the trophy, and now we know why.
Following her dominant win over Anisimova in the final, Swiatek claimed her sixth major title and became the first Polish woman ever to win Wimbledon.
But unfortunately, Wimbledon champions are not allowed to hold onto the trophies presented to them after the final, as it is taken away from them shortly after the match concludes.
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Instead, Swiatek, like all other champions, will be given a replica of the trophy that is three-quarters of the size of the original, allowing her to proudly display it at home.
Explaining the situation while speaking on the BBC, 2013 champion Marion Bartoli said: "She can’t keep it. You only get a replica of it. This one goes back into the trophy gallery.
"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.”
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Later in the broadcast, host Clare Balding asked the former champion to for more details about the replica trophy and how she felt about receiving a replica rather than getting to keep the real thing.
“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."
Ben McCrum