Why is there a pineapple on the Men's Wimbledon trophy?

The Herald Scotland

07-07-2025

Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova triumphed in the singles competitions in 2024 and will be hoping to repeat that success this year.
Some viewers watching the games might have noticed the Gentlemen's Singles trophy has a pineapple on its top and wondered why that is the case.
The Gentlemen's Singles trophy is the third iteration of the cup (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Why is there a pineapple on the Wimbledon trophy?
A small golden pineapple adorns the Gentlemen's Singles trophy, but there doesn't appear to be a concrete reason why that is the case.
According to Wimbledon's website, the main theory regarding its inclusion is that the fruit was a sign of wealth when it was originally made.
It explains: "The most plausible explanation for the presence of this unlikely fruit atop the most prestigious trophy in tennis is that, when The Championships began in the latter half of the 19th century, pineapples were prized as a rare and exclusive food.
"Although Christopher Columbus brought a pineapple back from his 1492 expedition to the New World pineapples remained expensive to import to, or grow in, western Europe, until commercial production began in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Serving them was thus an indication of high status."
The current trophy for the Gentlemen's Singles is actually the third iteration of the famous cup.
The first one, known as The Field Cup, was claimed by William Renshaw after he won three successive finals from 1881-83.
Its replacement in the Challenge Cup also came into Renshaw's ownership as he extended his winning run to 1886.
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Until 1921, the holder only played one match, the Challenge Round against the winner of the All-Comers' final, which explains how this scenario came about.
To rectify this, the organisers said the next trophy would not become the property of the winner.
The website adds: "The trophy is made of silver gilt, stands 18 inches (46cm) high, and is inscribed: 'The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World'. "