The minutes before the final of the Australian Open are quite a spectacle. Musical performances and a light show to create an atmosphere in the purest Australian style, similar to NFL or NBA shows. The first Grand Slam of the season is a party in the southern summer of Melbourne and the surroundings of the center court, the Rod Laver Arena, are a breeding ground for tennis fans ready to enjoy themselves.
One of the highlights in the run-up to the 2024 final, in which Sinner beat Medvedev, came with the entry of the trophy, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, onto the blue court of the Australian Open in its new luxury vehicle. : a trunk designed exclusively by Louis Vuitton and which joins those made for events such as the FIFA World Cup, the Ballon d'Or or the Copa del América. The new trunk was presented by the Spanish-Cuban actress Ana de Armas (, new muse of Louis Vuitton, and the tennis player Jim Courier, winner of the tournament on two occasions (1992 and 1993), and very loved by the Australian public.
The specially designed trunks for the two Australian Open individual trophies are handcrafted by experienced Louis Vuitton artisans in their historic workshops in Asnières, just outside Paris. The wooden frame is covered in Louis Vuitton's iconic Monogram canvas and finished with a classic leather-trimmed lozine and the same brass corner guards, locks and clasps that have been used on Louis Vuitton trunks since the 1970s. 1860.
In this case, the exterior of both trunks is painted with a striking white Victoria and Vuitton V. Both cases are lined with blue microfiber, which aligns with the tournament's color palette and its signature blue courts, and are finished off with the Australian Open logo (a white AO) on the underside of the lid.
“We are delighted with the stunning custom hand-crafted trunks created for the historic Australian Open trophies,” said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley in the jointly issued note. “Both the Australian Open and Louis Vuitton share a commitment to unparalleled excellence and innovation, while maintaining a great respect for history, tradition and the celebration of legendary achievements and skills.”
“Following the Trophy Trunks created for the Rugby World Cup and Ballon d'Or in 2023, we are proud to announce this new partnership with the first Grand Slam tournament of 2024, demonstrating once again that Victory travels in Louis Vuitton,” says Pietro Beccari, CEO of Louis Vuitton. The agreement, according to group sources, has been signed for three editions of the tournament. “For more than 170 years, La Maison has created trunks that embody excellence, creativity and boldness. We share all these values with the most important sporting events in the world.” In this way, the brand extends its tradition in the world of tennis, where it began with the Trophy Trunks created for Roland Garros and the Davis Cup.
The French luxury brand counts Carlos Alcaraz among its ambassadors. "It's a shame it didn't at least reach the quarters," Louis Vuitton employees in Australia lamented in the hallways of Melbourne. The player features his own custom branded trunk.
In addition, the firm has created personalized travel cases for the most iconic trophies in the world including the FIFA World Cup, the Ballon d'Or, the Rugby World Cup, the NBA Championship Trophy, the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula One, the League of Legends and the Copa América.
