Rolex and Wimbledon: A Timeless Partnership
As the oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon is an iconic sporting event that so many look forward to every year. For two glorious weeks every summer, it brings together the world’s most prominent tennis players to compete at the Centre Court in London for the prestigious winning titles.
From Novak Djokovic to Serena Williams, each athlete aims to give a flawless performance in every match, with each one being timed meticulously by Rolex watches. The partnership between Rolex and Wimbledon allows the tournament to practice perfect timekeeping and record their most accurate results year after year.
The Rolex brand is also featured at Wimbledon for other reasons – the main one being their popularity among the players themselves. Whether the athletes choose to wear their personal Rolex or a specific model as part of their sponsorship, there’s no denying that the luxury brand is a firm favourite among tennis stars.
Read on to learn more about Rolex’s relationship with Wimbledon and see a rundown of some of the most iconic watches worn by the tournament’s best tennis players.
Contents
- How long has Rolex sponsored tennis?
- Does Rolex give watches to tennis players?
- Which tennis players do Rolex sponsor?
3.1. Roger Federer
3.2. Belinda Bencic
3.3. Dominic Thiem
3.4. Garbiñe Muguruza - What is a Wimbledon Rolex?
How long has Rolex sponsored tennis?
Rolex has been involved in tennis for over 43 years, starting in 1978 when it became the official timekeeper of Wimbledon. The tournament was in pursuit of sporting excellence, and Rolex offered an unbeatable level of performance and precision, making it the perfect partnership. The famous Rolex clock at Centre Court has continued to time every match to perfection ever since. This blossoming relationship extends to all four Grand Slam events – including the US Open, French Open and Australian Open.
Does Rolex give watches to tennis players?
Rolex has established strong relationships with many of the world’s best tennis pros. It awards sponsorships to a select few Wimbledon regulars to promote their timepieces and showcase them to the audience in attendance and those watching at home. We have seen many of Rolex’s stunning watches grace Centre Court, with some being worn by Wimbledon champions.
Which tennis players do Rolex sponsor?
Currently, Rolex works with an array of ambassadors in tennis, including a handful of the top players. Here are a few of the most prominent tennis pros that Rolex sponsor:
Roger Federer
Swiss-born tennis legend Roger Federer is one of the best-known players in the world and has famously worked alongside Rolex since signing his first deal in 2006. He has worn an assortment of Rolex watches throughout his career, including the Datejust II, Vintage Daytona, Day-Date II, GMT Master II and Sky-Dweller.
One of his most well-known timepieces is the Rolex Datejust II Silver Blue Arabic (Ref: 116334), which he was wearing when he lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2009, marking his fifteenth grand slam title. Federer also owns a Vintage Daytona (Ref: 6263), created in his birth year of 1981. This classic black and white timepiece was given to him by his wife for his 30th birthday.
Belinda Bencic
Belinda Bencic’s career has continued to go from strength to strength since reaching the 2014 US Open Quarter Finals at age 17. Already having a love of Rolex watches, she wore the Daytona Two-Tone with Black Dial (Ref: 116503) at the Tokyo Olympics when she won silver in the women’s doubles alongside teammate Viktorija Golubic. She was also the first to become a women’s singles Olympic champion in her country.
Destined for greatness from a young age, she first became a part of the Rolex family in August 2021. Since becoming an ambassador for Rolex, she has been spotted wearing a variety of Rolex timepieces when competing. These include a stunning 18k yellow gold Lady-Datejust with a diamond-set dial and President bracelet presented to her by Rolex to celebrate her Tokyo win.
Dominic Thiem
One of Rolex’s newest ambassadors, Dominic Thiem, began his partnership with the brand in 2017 when he first entered the top ten. Since then, the Austrian has worn a luxurious Rolex watch at every match. He favours the stainless steel and ceramic Daytona Chronograph, one of the most well-known sports watches. The watch features a sleek black dial, creating a beautiful contrast against its casing.
Thiem has also been seen wearing the classic Oyster Perpetual Submariner in stainless steel with a black dial and black bezel. The Submariner is waterproof to a depth of 300 metres and features a Chromalight display. While it is a typical diver’s watch, it also makes an excellent everyday timepiece for athletes to have in their collection.
Garbiñe Muguruza
Garbiñe Muguruza is another Rolex ambassador who loved the brand long before their partnership began. The Spanish-Venezualan tennis star frequently wears a 36mm Datejust in stainless steel and 18k white gold, engraved with her name and 2014 – the year she first made the top 20. The watch is fitted with a beautiful diamond-set dial and Jubilee bracelet and was bought by Muguruza to reward herself for her hard work and dedication to her sport.
Muguruza also owns a stunning 31mm Oyster Perpetual timepiece in striking coral red. As she always hoped to own a Rolex throughout her childhood, she now has an impressive collection of designs, including a Daytona, GMT-Master and Submariner. She is one of the only tennis players to have beaten Serena and Venus Williams in her career, making her an iconic pro tennis player for Rolex to partner with.
What is a Wimbledon Rolex?
Rolex has always had a strong connection with Wimbledon. Fans of the brand now use ‘Wimbledon’ to refer to a special dial often featured on the Rolex Datejust. With a neutral slate-grey face and deep green Roman numeral markers, many see this as symbolic of the green courts of Wimbledon.
First released in 2009, the two-tone timepiece has been closely promoted alongside the tennis tournament and resembles the court clocks used during each game. The ‘Wimbledon’ dial has now been incorporated in every style of the Rolex Datejust 41, including the stainless steel, yellow gold and rose gold designs.
The relationship between Rolex and Wimbledon is truly iconic and highlights the level of luxury that the brand provides to its clients. With the best tennis players in the world choosing to wear a Rolex watch, this proves that there is no better brand to provide excellence in timekeeping.
At Miltons Diamonds, we’re proud to offer an extensive range of second-hand Rolex watches in excellent condition.
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