It was hardly the first championship trophy calamity. In 2006, after the tennis star Maria Sharapova won the U.S. Open, the top of the trophy popped off when she hoisted it above her head.

The trophy wound up getting dented. Maria Sharapova nearly injures herself with US Open trophy Sharapova couldn't contain her excitement when she defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in the women's ...