When Belarusian tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka competed in the Australian Open, sports fans were puzzled as to why Australian actor Joel Edgerton presented her with the trophy.
Sabalenka put in a dominant performance at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday evening, beating Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 6-3 to lift the trophy for the second year in a row.
As for the presentation, the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was brought out in a large Louis Vuitton trophy case, handmade by the luxury brand’s French artisans.
On one side of the trunk sat Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and on the other – surprisingly – Hollywood actor Edgerton.
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was released by Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and surprisingly Hollywood actor Joel Edgerton after the women’s final at the Australian Open
Some tennis fans shared their confusion over the actor’s appearance on
“Joel Edgerton, I really like you but why are you here, this is weird,” said another.
“Joel Edgerton playing tennis?” another tweeted.
A Tennis Australia spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia that Edgerton had been invited to participate in Louis Vuitton’s presentation.
The luxury brand struck a deal with Tennis Australia to present the trophies in specialized cases with a large white V on the front, symbolizing ‘Victory’ and ‘Vuitton’.
Hollywood actress Ana de Armas was seen presenting the men’s trophy
For the men’s final, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup was also released in a Louis Vuitton case and presented by US tennis champion Jim Courier and superstar Ana de Armas.
The blonde actress is an ambassador for the luxury brand.
But while Edgerton has been spotted at several Louis Vuitton fashion shows with his wife, Vogue editor-in-chief Christine Centenera, he is not an ambassador for the label, making his appearance at the AO even more puzzling.
Not everyone was happy with the event’s collaboration with the luxury label and the trophies packed into the Louis Vuitton suitcases.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg labels the trophy presentation as ‘unnecessary’.
“God, this Louis Vuitton trophy box is so tacky and unnecessary,” he wrote.
Edgerton was spotted in the crowd alongside Elle Macpherson and her boyfriend Doyle Bramhall
‘Daphne is beautiful on her own, the best trophy in tennis. Let her be!’
Craig TIley, CEO of Tennis Australia, said: “Louis Vuitton is known for creating iconic trunks and we are thrilled with the beautiful, handcrafted, bespoke trunks created for our historic Australian Open trophies.”
“The Australian Open and Louis Vuitton both share a commitment to unparalleled excellence and innovation.”