Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur has had the first glimpse of the silverware for the newest tournament in world tennis, the ATP Cup.
The magnificent silver trophy was unveiled at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane by ATP Cup Tournament Director Tom Larner, marking 13 days until the inaugural event begins from 3 to 12 January 2020.
The bespoke ATP Cup design is both a tribute to tennis’ past and a celebration of its future.
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The traditional shape is a nod to the history of the sport, with the contemporary shard construction symbolic of the innovative new format of the ATP Cup.
“The ATP Cup will showcase the top male players from 24 countries and this is the trophy they’ll be playing for,” Tom Larner said.
“Players have embraced this new team competition and we can’t think of a better way to kick start both the global tennis season and the Australian summer.”
De Minaur, who will represent Australia alongside Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, John Peers, Chris Guccione and captain Lleyton Hewitt, said he was looking forward to competing at the first edition of the ATP Cup.
“The Aussies are pumped to be starting the season in Brisbane and standing here in front of the ATP Cup, seeing the trophy up close for the first time, really brings to life what we are playing for in just a couple of weeks’ time,” he said.
Made from sterling silver, the stunning symmetrical design of the ATP Cup consists of 24 shards, with each representing one of the 24 countries in competition. The shards support a silver stem adorned with a hand-blown glass silver sphere, replicating both a traditional tennis ball and the hemisphere logo of the event.
The trophy’s base is handcrafted from native Banksia hardwood and is finished with a silver plaque, which awaits the engraving of the first ATP Cup champion team.
The ATP Cup has been designed and handcrafted by industry leaders in precious metals, ABC Bullion, who also craft the Australian Open men’s singles trophy, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, and the Melbourne Cup.
“With Australia hosting the inaugural ATP Cup it is only appropriate the trophy is made in Australia and from Australian silver,” Darren May of ABC Bullion said.
“It has been a true team effort to produce this team’s trophy in Australia – from the local miners, to the designers, fabricators and refinery workers.”
ABC Bullion is also the proud manufacturer of the runner up plate and medallions for the Final Eight.
The ATP Cup will tour the country, travelling to Perth next before heading to Sydney.
ATP Cup – trophy fast facts
- Made in Australia from locally sourced materials
- Contains more than six kilograms of silver, hand-blown glass and native banksia hardwood
- A team of six have dedicated more than 320 hours to designing and producing the ATP Cup
- Stands 50 centimetres tall
- As well as the ATP Cup, ABC Bullion are responsible for producing the Australian Open men’s singles trophy, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and the Melbourne Cup
