Rolex is closely associated with the world of tennis, with Rolex watches regularly appearing in almost every professional tennis tournament around the world. Rolex’s relationship with tennis dates back to 1978, when it became the official timekeeper of the Wimbledon Championships. Over the years, Rolex’s involvement in the sport has grown, with the iconic Swiss watchmaker now sponsoring all four Grand Slam tournaments as well as some of the world’s top professional players.
Over the years, Rolex brand ambassadors tennis players have worn a variety of different models, and it’s safe to assume that the sport’s biggest names (like Roger Federer) can buy almost any Rolex watch they want. From the stainless steel “Batman” GMT-Master II to the solid platinum Day-Date President, Federer has been spotted wearing them all, but historically, it is the classic models in the Rolex catalog that are most closely associated with the world of tennis. In fact, there is even a special style of log dial, nicknamed “Wimbledon”, with Roman numerals in a green outline. However, when we look at some of the most famous Rolex Ambassadors who participated in the U.S. Open in New York this year.
Tennis, Rolex Daytona and the U.S. Open
Key facts and features of the Rolex Daytona：
- First introduced in 1963.
- Originally designed for the racing world.
- With mechanical 12-hour chronograph.
- Exterior bezel with tachymeter scale.
- Features a pair of pushers on either side of the winding crown and three registers on the dial.
- The name “Daytona” comes from the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
- The vintage Rolex Daytona holds the record for the most expensive Rolex watch ever made ($17.8 million).
- Rolex’s most diverse collection of sports watches.
- A favorite of celebrities and professional athletes around the world.
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Alexander Zverev
ALEXANDER ZVEREV’S ROLEX DAYTONA REF. 116519LN
- Reference number: 116519LN
- Case size: 40mm
- Material: 18-carat white gold
- Functions. Time/running seconds; 12-hour chronograph
- Dial: Steel and black with luminous hour markers
- Bezel. Fixed. Black Cerachrom with tachymeter scale
- Crystal: Sapphire (flat)
- Water resistance: 100 meters / 330 feet
- Strap/bracelet. Oyster bracelet
- Approximate price: $29,700 (new); $39,500-$45,500 (used)
Alexander “Sasha” Zverev, one of the most promising young players on Rolex’s impressive list of tennis ambassadors, has been a regular in the world’s top 10 since 2017, winning more than a dozen titles, including the year-end championship ATP Tour Finals and five ATP Masters 1000 Championships. Most recently, Zverev became the first men’s Olympic champion in his home country of Germany when he won gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
When it comes to his favorite Rolex watch, Alexander Zverev has been spotted wearing some very popular watches, including the new stainless steel Sky-Dweller ref. 326934 (blue dial) with Jubilee bracelet. However, the watch he seems to wear most often these days is the 18K white gold Rolex Daytona ref. 116519 with a black Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex strap (his special model is the version with the “steel and black” dial, which has a dark Zverev’s Daytona as a Rolex celebration of his participation in the 2020 Tokyo A gift from Rolex for the Olympic Games, its case back bears the inscription “The Rolex family congratulates Sascha”.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS’S ROLEX DAYTONA REF. 116500LN
- Reference number: 116500LN
- Case size: 40mm
- Material. Oyster steel (904L stainless steel)
- Functions. Time/running seconds; 12-hour chronograph
- Dial: White with luminous markers
- Bezel. Fixed. Black Cerachrom with tachymeter scale
- Crystal: Sapphire (flat)
- Water resistance: 100 meters/330 feet
- Strap/bracelet. Oyster bracelet
- Approximate price: $13,150 (new); $37,500-42,500 (used)
Stefanos Tsitsipas is another young and promising professional tennis player and a Rolex witness. He won the 2019 ATP Finals (the youngest year-end champion in eighteen years) and has won seven ATP singles titles in his career to date. Sisyphus is the second-youngest player in the top ten of the Association of Professional Tennis (ATP) rankings and is currently ranked a career-high No. 3 in the world, making him the highest-ranked Greek tennis player in the world. History.
Regarding his favorite Rolex watch, Stefanos Tsitsipas has been spotted wearing many different models, including the two-tone Submariner (Ref. 16613LN, and the same 18k white gold Daytona recently presented by the brand by tennis player and Rolex ambassador Alexander Zverev. However, the model most recently spotted being worn by Sisyphus is the stainless steel Rolex Daytona reference. The 116500LN with a black Cerachrom bezel (he has the version with the white “Panda” dial) has become an almost permanent fixture on his wrist during post-match press conferences and award ceremonies.
Belinda Bencic
CELINDA BENCIC’S ROLEX DAYTONA REF. 116503
- Reference number: 116503
- Case size: 40mm
- Material: 904L stainless steel and 18k yellow gold
- Functions. Time/running seconds; 12-hour chronograph
- Dial: Black with luminous hour markers
- Bezel. Fixed, 18k yellow gold with tachymetric scale
- Crystal: Sapphire (flat)
- Water resistance: 100 meters/330 feet
- Strap/bracelet. Oyster bracelet
- Approximate price: $17,400 (new); $23,500-$32,500 (used)
Belinda Bencic, one of the top women’s tennis players and a Rolex ambassador, became the youngest player in more than 15 years when the 17-year-old Swiss tennis pro reached the last eight at the U.S. Open in 2014. Bencic, whose career high ranking is No. 4 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), has won five singles titles and most recently won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making Bencic the first women’s singles champion from her (and Rolex’s) native Switzerland.
When it comes to her favorite Rolex watch, Belinda Bencic usually tends to go for the Logbook model, and Rolex recently presented her with a solid 18-karat yellow gold Lady-Datejust with a diamond-set dial and presidential strap to celebrate her participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The back of the watch is engraved with the words “The Rolex family congratulates Belinda,” which Bencic says is “an honor and this watch will forever remain in my memory. However, Belinda Bencic also seems to be a fan of the Cosmograph Daytona, and can often be seen wearing the Rolex Daytona two-tone steel and gold model. 116503 (hers is the version with a black dial).
