With the ATP Gerry Weber Open at Halle and the AEGON Championships at Queens both now underway, and Wimbledon just a couple of weeks away, the grass court tennis season is well and truly upon us. Whilst we look forward to the traditional strawberries and cream, it’s an opportune time to take a look at how this fascinating sport and the world of luxury watches convene.
Although timekeeping may not seem as vital to the sport of tennis as it is to other sports, it still plays an important part; for example, in the official rules, a player is required to serve no more than 20 seconds after the previous point is completed, 90 seconds are allowed for changing sides, and there should be only two minutes between sets. There are no official countdowns for this, but umpires will warn players who take too long.
No surprise, then, that a suitable watch can be an important piece of kit for a tennis player. That suitable watch needs to meet certain criteria; it needs to be lightweight, or it will impede the player’s serve and swing. It also needs to be durable, as in professional tennis a serve can be clocked at anything from 100 to 163mph – and a ball travelling at that speed could do some damage to anything in its path – and of course it needs to withstand the pressure as the player hurls him or herself around the court.
Rafael Nadal, one of the first players to wear a watch on the courts, has recently been seen sporting an extremely limited edition watch by Richard Mille, designed specifically for the Spanish star. He has been an ambassador for the brand since 2010, however he is not the only player to have connections to a prominent watch brand.
One of the stars to watch out for this year is Kei Nishikori, who also happens to be a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer watches. In his homeland of Japan, tennis has not always been a high-profile sport; with his success, Nishikori is changing that fact. He became the youngest player to seed in the ATP’s top 100 at 18, and the first Asian male to compete in a Grand Slam final at 24. This year, he is seeded 5th and ever-improving, with a total of nine singles titles to his name.
Meanwhile, another of TAG Heuer’s brand ambassadors is gearing up for Wimbledon: five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova. Her victory at the Brisbane International in January means that she has claimed at least one title every year for 13 consecutive years. However, illness affected her form at the recent French Open, and she was knocked out by Czech player Lucie Sarafova in the fourth round. We will certainly be crossing our fingers in the hopes that she can bounce back in time for the championship where she gained her first Grand Slam at the tender age of 17.
Both of these stars exemplify TAG Heuer’s motto, “Don’t Crack Under Pressure,” and for those who are inspired by them, here at Banks Lyon we offer an extensive range of TAG Heuer watches. For more information, why not visit our shop to browse the range or contact us on 01524 384858 to speak to one of our team?
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