Iga Świątek claimed the 2025 Korea Open title in Seoul, but the trophy she lifted afterward grabbed as much attention as her three-set victory. Tennis fans flooded social media to poke fun at the unconventional design, with many struggling to understand its cultural inspiration.
What Inspired the Design of Iga Świątek’s Korea Open Trophy?
The tournament organizers unveiled a new trophy modeled after a Baekja Dal-Hangari, a Korean moon jar. These porcelain vessels, created during the Joseon Dynasty, are celebrated as masterpieces of Korean ceramic art.
With their round silhouette and glowing white finish, moon jars symbolize balance, harmony, and the quiet elegance of Korean aesthetics. While the concept carried strong cultural meaning, it left many outside Korea scratching their heads and calling the design odd.
Fan reactions poured in shortly after the trophy ceremony, reflecting a mix of confusion and amusement. One user on X joked, “That trophy is super basic looking but she won the title so ✨.”
That trophy is super basic looking but she won the title so ✨ https://t.co/pqzXQtr2fw
— C ᥫ᭡ (@cpsjusuf) September 21, 2025
Another wrote, “The trophy design is certainly a choice.”
the trophy design is certainly a choice https://t.co/7GJIFBFwqA
— clem (@gcfminni) September 21, 2025
Some attempted to decode the cultural link, with a fan asking, “IDK if I have any Korean followers but this trophy is a moon jar right? It’s something very traditional and symbolic of Korea?”
IDK if I have any Korean followers but this trophy is a moon jar right? It’s something very traditional and symbolic of Korea? https://t.co/TJXXKgUy3C
— J. ✌️ (@p3hagz) September 21, 2025
Others were far less charitable, with one bluntly stating, “The trophy is… interesting,” while another quipped, “Am I the only one that vase looks ugly? What happened to this one?” accompanied by a photo of last year’s design.
the trophy is……. interesting https://t.co/FTyD7XltXJ
— isa (@16carlisa63) September 21, 2025
Am I the only one that vase looks ugly? What happened to this one? pic.twitter.com/tB1acZDhSn
— shawtyisaten (@shawtyis_a_10) September 21, 2025
A different commenter even poked fun by recalling a past moment, writing, “I want to know if there was tiramisu inside that trophy,” referencing Świątek’s celebratory dessert tucked into her 2022 US Open trophy.
And one summed up the general disbelief with, “What the hell kind of trophy is this, cmon Korea.”
What Was Świątek’s Path to the Seoul Trophy?
Świątek captured her 25th career singles title in Seoul. Entering as the top seed, she began in the second round and defeated Sorana Cîrstea 6-3, 6-2. She then crushed Barbora Krejčíková 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals and eased past Maya Joint 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals, playing both matches on the same rain-delayed day.
In the final, Świątek battled back from a poor start against Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 after 2 hours and 41 minutes. It was her third title of 2025 after Wimbledon and Cincinnati.
