Australian Open and Rolex: When Timing Is Crucial

Since 1978, Rolex has been an integral part of professional tennis, engaging as a promoter and sponsor at the highest level. Since 2008, the Swiss watch manufacturer has served as the official timekeeper of the Australian Open – an extraordinary partnership that continues to this day. In 2026, Rolex will once again significantly shape the appearance of the Grand Slam tournament: as the official timekeeper as well as through its renowned testimonials Iga Świątek, Jannik Sinner, Mirra Andreeva, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Australian Open: Legends Are Born

Photo: © Rolex / John Buckle

This year, the focus is especially on Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz. Both have the chance to complete the coveted career Grand Slam® with a triumph at the Australian Open, meaning winning all four Grand Slam tournaments at least once. This extraordinary feat has so far been achieved by only 18 players, including Rolex testimonials Rod Laver, Chris Evert, and Roger Federer.

The biggest challenger to Carlos Alcaraz is also a Rolex-ambassador: Jannik Sinner. The Italian recently won the Australian Open twice in a row and, with another victory in Melbourne, would have the opportunity to celebrate such a hat-trick as only the second player in the history of this tournament.

Rolex: Famous Tennis Players as Ambassadors

Photo: © Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Rolex has consistently expanded its commitment to professional tennis over decades, intensifying collaborations with numerous outstanding players. Many of them became brand ambassadors and wore iconic timepieces from the manufacturer on their wrists. This distinguished circle also includes legends like Rod Laver and Chris Evert.

• Roger Federer shaped tennis for years like hardly anyone else and set numerous historic records. As a long-time Rolex ambassador, he was seen with many models of the brand, including the Rolex GMT-Master II, Datejust, Cosmograph Daytona, Sky-Dweller, as well as Oyster Perpetual variants. At the Laver Cup, he also attracted attention with a special edition of the Daytona.
• Carlos Alcaraz has been part of the Rolex family since 2022. His appearance with the yellow gold version of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which he presented at significant victories, was particularly impressive.
• Jannik Sinner, currently one of the dominant players in world tennis, has been seen multiple times with a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18 kt yellow gold with a black Dial. His selection is complemented by sporty classics like the Rolex Submariner and various GMT-Master II models.
• Coco Gauff, one of the rising stars of the younger generation, opts for color and individuality. Her choice fell on a Rolex Oyster Perpetual with a “Red Grape” Dial. This is an expressive model that she liked to wear at major appearances and special moments.
• Caroline Wozniacki, on the other hand, prefers timeless elegance. The Dane mainly chose classic models like the Rolex Datejust and Lady-Datejust, which she regularly wore at official events.

Our Watch Tips

• Rolex Sky-Dweller 18k (0.750) Gold Automatic Men's Watch
• Rolex Datejust 36 Steel / White Gold Automatic Men's
• Rolex Submariner Date 40 Steel Automatic Men's Watch

Luxury Watches and Tennis Players: A Successful Liaison

Of course, Rolex is not the only watch brand present in international tennis. Other renowned manufacturers have also built close connections to the biggest names in the sport. Novak Djokovic, for example, is enthusiastic about the Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 and even has a special edition dedicated to him: the Big Bang Tourbillon Novak Djokovic Edition. Previously, he had a long-standing partnership with Seiko, from which the Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic Limited Edition emerged.

Rafael Nadal has relied for years on the highly technical timepieces from Richard Mille. Models like the RM 27-03, RM 27-05, and RM 27-04 belong to the extremely lightweight, high-priced Tourbillon watches of the brand and are a rarity in professional sports, as Nadal even wears them during his matches on the court.

Prominent brand messages are also found in women's tennis: Serena Williams was a brand ambassador for Audemars Piguet for years and showcased models like the Royal Oak Offshore as well as the iconic Royal Oak at major appearances.

Among current top players, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Alex de Minaur, and Frances Tiafoe act as brand ambassadors for TAG Heuer, while Alexander Zverev has often been seen with a Richard Mille RM 27-01.

A special role is played by the German tennis legend Boris Becker, who was closely associated with the brand Ebel. Reports say he wore an Ebel watch on his wrist during his first Wimbledon victory in 1985. Stefan Edberg and André Agassi are also said to have appeared with timepieces from the Swiss brand during that time.

Our Watch Tips

• Ebel Sportwave Steel / Gold
• Tag Heuer Aquaracer 300M Steel Automatic
• Hublot Big Bang Chronograph Ceramic / Titanium Automatic
• Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Carbon Automatic