It was 1978 when Rolex became the Official Timekeeper of Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious tournament in the world (the first edition dates back to 1877), in the same year that Chris Evert became the first woman tennis player to be the brand's testimonial. Today, the House plays this important role in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
The 2022 edition of Wimbledon, an unmissable event for fans, is number 135 and will end on 10 July. The tournament has reached the men's and women's quarter-finals. On 5 July, the much-anticipated showdown between our own Jannik Sinner and six-time tournament winner (and defending champion) and former world number one Novak Djokovic will take place.
New this year, the Sunday between the beginning and the end of the competition (the so-called 'Middle Sunday'), which until 2021 did not see the players and players take to the courts, was also played. The 2022 edition of Wimbledon also celebrates the centenary of today's Central Court, opened in 1922, which now seats 15,000 spectators and also has a movable roof to cover the court in case of rain.
Among the Rolex testimonials there are currently (and have been in the past) some of the most important champions of the racquet. Among them is the great Roger Federer, who holds the record for most wins on London grass in the men's singles tournament, having triumphed eight times. Awaiting Federer's return to the courts, among the active tennis players and Rolex testimonials, in addition to the aforementioned Sinner, we find Alcaraz, Tsitsipas and Dimitrov, and among the women, world number 1 Iga Swiatek, Angelique Kerber (winner in 2018), Garbine Muguruza (winner in 2017) and Belinda Bencic, to name but a few. All sportspeople who share with Rolex values such as precision, performance and passion.
The sponsorship, inseparable from the brand, is rooted in tradition and perpetuates the values of Rolex's founder: Hans Wilsdorf.
