Tennis is, and always has been, a pivotal part of the British summer. With Andy Murray winning the title at Queens yesterday, and Wimbledon just around the corner the time for tea, sandwiches and strawberries is once again upon us.
However, the tennis season is not just an excuse for us Brits to enjoy a Pimms before noon but a global platform for the watch brands of the world to be seen on the wrists of tennis’ greatest. From Andy Murray’s partnership with Rado, and Rafa Nadal’s famous Richard Mille watches, the sport has always been a great pull for watch brands to really showcase the best of their technology.
Wimbledon starts a week on Monday so in preparation we thought we would take a look at the many ambassadors and their timepieces.
Rolex of course is the most prominent feature at Wimbledon with their sponsorship of the tournament, a partnership that spans 30 years. Official time keeper since 1978, Rolex takes great pride in their sponsorship of the great British sporting event; the Ivy-framed clocks and scoreboards are now just part of the furniture.
Both partners pride themselves on their long heritage and traditions so their partnership is truly perfect.
Roger Federer
Known among the tennis greats as one of the greatest players of all time, Federer has been an ambassador for Rolex for the past seven years. In 2006 the Swiss tennis player famously paid a ‘break up’ fee from his previous sponsors Maurice LaCroix in order to join the Rolex team and since then the winning combination has paid off for both the player and the brand.
No one has more Wimbledon Gentlemen’s titles than Federer so the 17-time Grand Slam winner and one of the world’s most iconic brands make the perfect partnership.
Following his first Wimbledon win back in 2003 Federer wore a steel Rolex Daytona to lift the trophy but in 2012 he chose the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date II.
Maria Sharapova
Sharapova is definitey one of the most famous female tennis players of the last decade; not just for her skills on the court but also as a blonde beauty. Since the age of four Maria has played tennis and at the age of 14 she was junior champion. Entering the WTA rankings in 2002 at no.532 she went onto win Wimbledon just two years later – the first Russian ever to do so. By 2005 she was happily sitting in the number one spot and has since gone onto win numerous Grand Slam titles since.
Maria has now been an ambassador for TAG Heuer watches for a number of years and, like the TAG Heuer F1 Ceramic Watch that she favours, she embodies their values of passion and performance. As the world’s highest paid female tennis player Sharapova can have her pick of watches yet she favours the Tag Heuer Formula 1 Ceramic Watch with Diamonds.
Caroline Wozniacki
Another fan of the iconic Swiss watch brand Rolex is Caroline Wozniacki. Preferring the more feminine option of the pink flower dial Rolex Datejust 36mm the Dane has worn her Rolex at every sporting event since 2010.
Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi
One of Tennis’s greats – Steffi Graf – is a real icon for women’s tennis. Playing since the age of four Steffi won every possible title, including an Olympic medal, before her retirement in 1999. Now enjoying her life with her husband, and fellow Longines ambassador Andre Agassi, she epitomises all the fundamental values of Longines – excellence, performance, revival and elegance. Her Longines of choice is the beautifully elegant Diamond set Longines Dolce Vita. While her husband sports the Longines Conquest Classic.
