The Musketeers Cup… The iconic trophy at Roland Garros tells the story of the long bond between tennis, the French Federation and one of the most precious jewelers of Place Vendôme.

While the history of the Roland Garros tournament dates back to 1925, the story of the jeweler who produced this trophy dates back to 1613.

The Birth Of Roland Garros

1925. The French Tennis Federation decides to open the French championships to the best foreign players. The birth of the French Open. But it lacked a stadium to match the event. In 1927 a stadium emerged on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne to host the championships to come. The stadium takes the name of Roland Garros – a tribute to the pioneer of aviation. Like him, the French Open, now called the Roland-Garros tournament, would soon become a legend.

Until 1933, four French players took all the victories. Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and René Lacoste. They are nicknamed the Four Musketeers.

So, when a new era began in the postwar years, the French Open became the first so-called “open” Grand Slam tournament. In 1968, the Open era defined modern tennis. For the first time, all tennis players, professional or amateur, are allowed to participate in Grand Slam tournaments. At the same time, tennis became a popular sport.

In 1981, the then president of the French Tennis Federation, Philippe Chatrier, decided to offer an Olympian cup to this tournament played on clay. He then launched a demand to Parisian jewelers …

Roland Garros now shines with an international aura – a trophy that lived up to its reputation was needed.

And in fact, one of the oldest jewelers in the world, located at 9 rue de la Paix turned out to be the only silversmith capable of turning a simple sheet of silver into a work of art.

The Musketeers Cup, A Trophy Signed Mellerio Dits Meller

Mellerio has been distilling its unparalleled know-how since 1613 – around works adored by Marie de Médicis, honored by Marie-Antoinette… And that day in 1981, the Mellerio house has been able to respond masterfully to the request of the FFT.

It is Gilles Haumont, the general manager of the house, who says it best: “In 1981, Mellerio proposed to the French Tennis Federation a cup in the shape of a large basin highlighted with a vine leaf, adorned with two swan-shaped handles. A naturalistic aesthetic dear to the company. “

Therefore, it is Mellerio and Mellerio alone who is entrusted with the realization of the Roland Garros cups. And in particular the legendary Coupe des Mousquetaires. The one that rewards the winner of the men’s singles. But this cup never leaves the stadium.

This is indeed the peculiarity of the Coupe des Mousquetaires. When it comes to crown the winner of Roland Garros, from Yanick Noha to Björn Borg via Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the Cup is lifted on the Central, before being put back inside the Stadium, until the The following year… The winner leaves with a replica.

A sort of relic forever linked to Roland-Garros, it is the result of pure craftsmanship. It takes fifty hours of work to bring this 21-centimeter-high, solid silver cup into the world.

Handcrafted in the historic workshops of Asnières, it is this dedication to know-how, excellence and the influence of Paris and France in the world that binds these company to the Roland Garros tournament. All that remains is to know who will leave on Sunday, June 13, 2021 with this iconic trophy!