By Steve Oldfield
Special to NKyTribune
More than 200 professional tennis players competed in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles tournaments at the Cincinnati Open. Just eight left the tri-state with trophies that were made right here in Greater Cincinnati at Rookwood Pottery.
The world-renowned ceramics manufacturer has been involved with the tournament since the very first year in 1899. After a decades-long hiatus, the Over-the-Rhine company once again started creating original designs in 2010 for the tournament’s winners and runners-up.
“The Rookwood Cup is a beautiful and distinctive trophy with a history that’s deeply tied to the Cincinnati Open,” said the tournament’s marketing director, Elizabeth Desrosiers. “Rookwood has evolved alongside the tournament, creating a trophy that honors our past while celebrating Cincinnati Open champions of today.”
“It’s a really nice one,” said men’s winner Arthur Fils. During the post-match press conference, the Frenchman revealed he didn’t think he got to take home the trophy he posed for photos with during the on-court ceremony. That’s because at some major tournaments, like Wimbledon, players are given a smaller replica to keep. But in Cincinnati, all of the champions and runners-up get the full-sized originals.
“This one is very cool,” Fils said. “I like it.”
The agony of defeat gets eased a little when the runners-up check out their trophies. Just ask Jessica Pegula, who took home her second one for making it to the final: first in 2024 and now this year, where she lost to fellow-American Coco Gauff, 6-2, 6-4.
“It’s a beautiful trophy,’ Pegula said. “I’m very appreciative that the runners-up trophy is still very nice because sometimes, they can vary a lot from the winners’ trophies.”
Pegula has won 11 titles and received 14 runners-up trophies in tournaments. She says she will show off the Cincinnati trophies at her home in Boca Raton. Some other trophies she has won aren’t as prominently displayed.
“Some of them are a little bizarre,” Pegula said. “Cincinnati’s is one of the cooler trophies out there.”
Men’s runner-up Frances Tiafoe admits he wishes he were taking home the champions’ version instead of his second runners-up trophy as well.
“I’m going to have two Cincinnati trophies at the crib,” Tiafoe said. “I wish they were champion ones but they’re real nice.”
The trophies end up all over the world. This year’s men’s doubles champions will be sending their trophies back to Brazil, as they’re heading to New York for the U.S. Open.
“It’s the most beautiful trophy that we have for sure,” said Rafael Matos. “I’m moving, so I’m sure it will have a special place in my new house.”
His doubles partner is also planning to display the trophy in a new home this Fall.
“We love it,” Orlando Luz said. “It’s going to be right there in the middle of the house for everybody to see.”
This year’s women’s doubles champions will be taking their trophies back to Czechia, formerly known as the Czech Republic.
“I feel it’s one of the best trophies there is,” said Linda Noskova, who also took home a replica trophy from Wimbledon last month for winning the Ladies Singles Final.
“Just to have the original size trophy from here is so nice and the colors are so beautiful.”
Her doubles partner, Marie Bouzkova, is another big fan of Rookwood’s work.
“It’s gorgeous,” Bouzkova said. “You always see these iconic pictures from Cincinnati with the winners and the trophies and now we get to own one. It’s pretty special.”
