TENNIS SCULPTURES
After attending the remarkable 2001 Wimbledon final between Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanišević, Louise Simson was inspired to create a sculpture commemorating the match. Having only captured photographs of Pat Rafter, she chose not to attempt Ivanišević but instead based her work on an image of Rafter’s serve.
The following year, in collaboration with Mervyn Hall, former Head of Broadcast at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, it was agreed that Ms. Simson would sculpt the Men’s Singles Champion each year, with the bronzes to be presented to the players at the subsequent Championships. In 2004, this tradition expanded to include the Runner-Up as well.
By 2014, Simson had sculpted Rafter, Hewitt, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, & Roddick. The dominance of the “Big Four” during this era was very clear!
In 2010, following the historic Longest Match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, Simson created sculptures of both players. In 2013, she also sculpted the Ladies’ Singles Champion, Marion Bartoli.
All sculptures shown on this page are cast in bronze, range between 18 and 21 inches in height and are available for purchase in limited editions of ten. For enquiries or acquisition details, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
ROGER FEDERER SCULPTURES
I was given a position in a broadcast box for the Men’s Wimbledon final. It was from this position that I took pictures to base the sculptures on. Roger Federer was very enthusiastic about choosing and so from 2003 onwards, I always aimed to sculpt the choice of the player.
Federer has six of my sculptures in his collection, the seventh year he won we struggled to find funding for the casting but it remains in wax form at the foundry.
RAFAEL NADAL
Rafael Nadal first received a sculpture in 2006 as a runner-up. This first photograph was chosen by me, after receiving a selection of a few from his father and Carlos Costa.
The second sculpture in 2007, in a serve position, was also as a runner-up. In this one, by leaning the sculpture back further than life, more energy was created in the sculpture.
The third sculpture in 2008, preparing for a backhand smash, was chosen by Nadal’s father the year before. Unfortunately this sculpture was unable to be cast due to the financial crisis hitting. The sculpture would need to be repaired before being cast but is available, it is a classic Rafa shot.
The photograph for his winning sculpture in 2010 was selected by a professional tennis coach and friend of mine.
The final Nadal sculpture was in 2011, his final year as a Wimbledon runner-up also remains in wax only, it is a shot that only Rafa Nadal can execute.
Rafael Nadal, 2007 Runner-Up by Louise Simson
Rafael Nadal 2006 Runner-Up Sculpture by Louise Simson
Rafael Nadal, 2008 Champion by Louise Simson
Rafael Nadal 2011 Runner-Up Sculpture by Louise Simson
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
There are two Djokovic sculptures in the collection. This first from 2011 is from his first Wimbledon title.
The next in 2014 was from his second Wimbledon title. It was decided to not make one when he was a runner-up in 2013 as he wouldn’t be interested in any prize for second!
Novak Djokovic 2011 Champion by Louise Simson
Novak Djokovic 2014 Champion by Louise Simson
ANDY MURRAY SCULPTURES
The below is the second sculpture of Andy Murray, from his first Wimbledon title in 2013.
Andy Murray 2013 Champion by Louise Simson
ANDY RODDICK
The first Andy Roddick sculpture was the first made of a runner-up. He and his agent were both very keen for a sculpture and chose this distinctive image of his serve.
The second from 2005, was selected by Andy Roddick, and was a great example of his hand and net skills - something he was rather less known for!
Andy Roddick 2004 Runner-Up by Louise Simson
Andy Roddick 2005 Runner-Up by Louise Simson
MARION BARTOLI
The idea to sculpt the Ladies’ Champion came about when Djokovic was a runner-up in 2013 and it was decided that he would not want to receive a sculpture as runner-up. Therefore there would be an opportunity to sculpt the Ladies Champion, Marion Bartoli. She was very happy to receive this scupture!
Marion Bartoli 2013 Champion by Louise Simson
NICOLAS MAHUT
This sculpture was to commemorate the longest tennis match between Mahut and Isner in 2010. Mahut wanted a sculpture of him diving and the photo was taken from a newspaper article.
Nicholas Mahut from The Longest Match, by Louise Simson
CARLOS ALCARAZ
When Carlos Alcaraz won his first Wimbledon title in 2023, despite having not sculpted tennis players in 10 years, I was inspired to create a sculpture to celebrate his win, and beginning of a new era. This sculpture hasn’t been cast but a mould is in the foundry and it is available for purchase.
