I had recently posted of the upset that
formidable Serena Williams suffered at the hands of German Sabine Liscki…. now the
Semi-final line-up is drawn.
Sabine Lisicki (GER) Vs Agnieszka
Radwanska [Pol]; Marion Bartoli of France to play against Kirsten Flipkens of
Belgium ~ the way seeds have tumbled down can be better understood when you
substitute Names by Numbers : it is going to be 23 V 4; 15 V 20 respectively. Some have already started fancying the chances
of Sabine Lisicki, the new and hitherto unheralded favourite to lift the Venus
Rosewater Dish…….. She positively strolled out on to Court No.1,
displaying an easy confidence and leading the way as her diffident opponent
Kaia Kanepi hung back several paces behind.
Whatever it be Wimbledon
would see a new women’s champion as none of the 4 have won the title before. Kirsten
Flipkens had another upset win over 2011
titlist Petra Kvitova in three sets and emulated the feat of her country-woman Kim
Clijsters three years ago to reach the Semis. As it
has happened the player who was seeking her first entry into Semis played
fearlessly against the former champion Kvitova.
It you are wondering what ‘Venus Rosewater Dish’ is all about………….it is the title
– the Ladies' Singles Trophy awarded at The Championships, Wimbledon, first
presented to the Champion in 1886. The 50 guineas trophy is an 18 3/4 inch
diameter, partially gilded, sterling silver salver made in 1864 by Messrs
Elkington and Co. Ltd ofBirmingham, and is a copy of an electrotype by Caspar
Enderlein from the original in the Louvre. It is tradition for the winner to be
awarded the trophy by the President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet
Club, HRH the Duke of Kent, and then walk a lap around the court to display the
trophy to the crowd and photographers. The winner does not keep the trophy,
which remains in the museum at the All-England club, but from 1949 to 2006 all
Champions have received a miniature replica of the trophy (diameter 8 inches),
and from 2007 all Champions have received a three-quarter replica of the
trophy, bearing the names of all past Champions (diameter 14 inches).
The theme of decoration is
unrelated to tennis or sport, but is mythological. The central boss depicts the
figure of Sophrosyne, the personification of temperance and moderation, seated
on a chest with a lamp in her right hand and a jug in her left, with various
attributes such as a sickle, fork and caduceus around her. The four reserves on
the boss of the dish each contain a classical god, together with elements.
Lisicki, is basking in glory as the woman
who beat Serena and if she can lay her hands on Rosewater dish – this is her
best chance. She had a relatively easy match in QF against
Kanepi ranked no. 46 and just blew it at 6-3, 6-3 in 65 minutes.
If you are curious enough, the Gentleman
who wins receives a silver gilt cup 18.5 inches (about 47 cm) in height and 7.5
inches (about 19 cm) in diameter. The trophy has been awarded since 1887 and
bears the inscription: "All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed
Championship of the World." ~ for Ladies it is not the Cup but a sterling silver salver commonly known as the
"Venus Rosewater Dish", or simply the "Rosewater Dish". The
winners of the Gentlemen's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events
receive silver cups. The runner-up in
each event receives an inscribed silver plate.
You may be surprised to know the prize money
is being awarded from 1968 only - the first year that professional players were
allowed to compete in the Championships. Before 2007, among grand slam
tournaments, Wimbledon and the French Open
awarded more prize money in men's events than in women's events. In 2007, Wimbledon changed this policy, giving the same money for
both events. Men play 5 setters while it
is 3 for women. In April 2013, The All England Club announced
the largest prize money for a tennis tournament so far. The total prize money
has been increased by about 40% from 2012 to £22,560,000.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar .
3rd July 2013
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