The Wimbledon tennis tournament, the oldest in the world, takes place every year at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in south west London. It’s here where the great legends of world tennis have been formed, since its inaugural event in 1877. And it’s also here where the alliance between Wimbledon and Rolex was born, and has grown together since 1978. An alliance that came about at the very moment when tennis became a global sport.
Wimbledon isn’t only the birthplace of tennis, it’s also the place which has seen its history written, year after year, for a century and a half.
Rolex is proud to have supported this center of excellence in tennis for more than 40 years.
Wimbledon and Rolex: Tradition and modernity
The stories of Wimbledon and Rolex run in parallel, as much in time as in the commitment to innovation, without losing sight of their origins.
The All England Club keeps its original traditions going in the purest British style. Its Centre Court, which can seat 15,000 spectators, is used exclusively for the Wimbledon tournament.
Everything about Wimbledon is planned and carried out with the same precision that the Swiss brand uses to make watches that are as exceptional as the Rolex Day Date. This particularly applies to the grass courts, which are cut with extreme care to a height of 8 mm, and lovingly tendered the whole year round.
In honor of tradition, the players must only wear white, while the public watching the matches from the Royal Box, probably the most exclusive in the world, must follow a strict etiquette. Of course, time must be strictly observed and Rolex, as the Official Timekeeper of the tournament, is in charge of keeping the exact time. All of this forms part of the Wimbledon legend. There are things that last forever if they’re well looked after, just as with Rolex watches.
Epic games on the court with Rolex in the front row
Wimbledon holds a special place in the hearts and minds of tennis fans the world over, but its magic goes beyond the atmosphere, the intensity and the traditions. There’s no Grand Slam tournament as sought-after by tennis players as Wimbledon. It’s here where the great tennis legends of the world have been crowned, both male and female.
The All England Club’s Centre Court has been the setting for epic finals which have defined the history of tennis throughout different eras. Games between Rod Laver and John Newcombe, Björn Borg and John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Martina Navrátilová, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, to mention a few.
Wimbledon and Rolex share their constant search for excellence without losing respect for tradition. If the Wimbledon tournament is synonymous with precision and accuracy in tennis, so is Rolex in watchmaking. That’s why many Wimbledon champions are also Rolex wearers, including Roger Federer, Garbiñe Muguruza, Björn Borg, Rod Laver, Chris Evert, Stefan Edberg and Angelique Kerber.
Rolex and sports
Rolex’s support to sports is in the DNA of the Swiss brand. Great sportsmen embody, better than anyone, the capacity to succeed, the love of a challenge, the precision of movement and the robustness which have made Rolex the #1 brand in global watchmaking. Because of this, Rolex has enjoyed a special relationship with tennis for more than 40 years; decades for the brand to establish itself as the Premium Partner of the tennis world, supporting not only the world’s major tournaments, but also renowned players and promising talents.
The relationship Rolex has with sportsmen and sports events isn’t just limited to tennis. Rolex is also an ongoing sponsor of sports such as equestrianism, sailing, skiing, golf and car racing; sports where technical rigorousness, precision and time control are absolutely fundamental.