Upon completion of the 2025 Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, W.J. Sanders, in collaboration with sister company and official Australian Open (AO) trophy manufacturer ABC Bullion, hosted a special workshop tour with members of Akhurst’s family, honouring her legacy in the space where the trophy was handcrafted.
Adding significance to the tour, the AO 2025 marks the centenary of Daphne Akhurst’s inaugural Australian Championships singles victory in 1925 – a win that heralded her remarkable career, which included five singles and nine doubles titles. Created to reflect Akhurst’s elegance and sporting legacy, the cup will take centre stage at the AO 2025, held at Melbourne Park in Victoria.
Darren May, General Manager of W.J. Sanders, reflects on the cup’s impact: “The 2025 trophy pays homage to Daphne Akhurst’s indomitable spirit and to 100 years of a great Australian tennis story,” he said. “Our team is proud to contribute a piece that embodies both her legacy and the artistry of Australian manufacturing, with each handcrafted element reflecting her elegance, determination and influence on the sport.”
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, affectionately called ‘Daphne’, is presented to the women’s singles champion at the AO. It was first awarded in 1934. While details about its design are limited, the trophy features distinctive handles and a lid, handcrafted to embody traditional aesthetics.
Pallion and the Akhurst Family: Honouring a Tennis Legend
In December 2024, W.J. Sanders and ABC Bullion, hosted the family of tennis champion Daphne Akhurst for a special morning tea and tour of the W.J. Sanders workshop in Marrickville, Sydney. The heartfelt gathering celebrated Akhurst’s extraordinary achievements, which include five Australian Championships singles titles and nine doubles titles between 1924 and 1931. A trailblazer in Australian tennis, Akhurst was also part of the first Australian women’s team to tour Europe and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The workshop visit offered her descendants a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship behind the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Painstakingly handcrafted over 250 hours by W.J. Sanders, the cup embodies Akhurst’s elegance and legacy. Akhurst’s grandson, Anthony Cozens, reflected on the family’s pride: “Seeing where the cup is created was a deeply moving experience for our family,” he said.
“It’s incredible to witness the care and dedication that goes into honouring Daphne’s legacy in such a tangible way.”
Akhurst passed away tragically in 1933 at the age of 29, leaving behind her husband, Royston Stuckey Cozens, and their son Don. This special occasion also commemorated Don Cozens, who passed away in early 2024, as his wife, Patricia, and children – Peter, Jane, Susan and Anthony – joined the special event. “This meeting of past and present underlined the enduring influence of Daphne Akhurst’s legacy on sport in Australia and beyond. All of us at W.J. Sanders feel so privileged to be entrusted with making the cup – a symbol of determination and pride – which is so fittingly named in her honour,” May added.
A Legacy in Silver and Spirit
The 2025 Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is an exact replica of the perpetual trophy held by Tennis Australia, originally commissioned after Akhurst’s passing by the then Lawn Tennis Association of Australia for the women’s singles championship. An archival clipping from Sydney newspaper The Labour Daily on March 29, 1933, which announced the creation and donation of the cup, noted the trophy “can never be won outright, but a miniature replica will be presented to the winner each year”.
Beginning 2012 the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup has been replicated in full-scale to mirror the original, crafted with precision and care. Since 2022, W.J. Sanders has been appointed to make the cup from pure Australian ABC Bullion silver, with 100% pure Australian ABC Bullion gold embellishments. The cup will be awarded to the AO 2025 women’s singles champion, standing as a testament to Akhurst’s enduring impact and the exceptional artistry of Australian craftsmanship.
Akhurst’s grandson, Anthony Cozens, shared heartfelt reflections on his grandmother’s impact on tennis, and his family, noting that they’re always keeping an eye out for the next budding tennis player among emerging generations. “Daphne’s story continues to inspire, both within our family and across the broader tennis community,” he said. “Each year, at Australian Open time, we are reminded of her passion for the sport and her remarkable achievements, which remain a source of pride for all of us.” Highlighting this legacy, Cozens reflected on Ash Barty, the most recent Australian to win the cup in 2022, adding: “She embodies the spirit Daphne brought to the sport. We love Ash!”
Akhurst’s remarkable contributions to tennis, documented by us, Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, ensure her legacy endures as a symbol of excellence and inspiration for generations to come.
The 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, runs until January 26.
ABC Bullion and W.J. Sanders are both Pallion companies.