Rolex - Official Sponsor of Wimbledon & US Open

Along with producing some of the world’s finest luxury watches, Rolex is known for supporting a number of great causes around the world. The diversity of the support is not often known to large numbers of people, but it does extend into many areas of life. One that many may be more familiar with has to do with sporting events.

The support for sporting events can be traced back to 1928, when Rolex provided Mercedes Gleitze, the first woman to swim the English Channel, with a Rolex Oyster to wear during the event. As people celebrated Gleitze’s achievement, it was also noted that the Oyster performed extremely well under difficult conditions.

Today, Rolex continues the tradition of sponsoring prestigious events that take place in many parts of the world. Here’s some basic information that will provide an idea of how far-reaching those sponsorships happen to be.

Who Does Rolex Sponsor?

Finding a complete list of organizations and events that Rolex sponsors is not always easy. This is because additions occur from time to time. In some cases, the new additions replace previous events or organizations that have ceased to operate.

As it relates to sporting events and organizations, Rolex currently sponsors operations that are associated with motor sports, tennis, golf, equestrian tournaments, and sailing. These are in addition to the philanthropic causes that the company continues to support today.

Is Rolex a Sponsor of Wimbledon?

The relationship between Wimbledon and Rolex has been going strong for more than 40 years. In the years since, that relationship has deepened and shows no signs of slowing down.

The first connection took place in 1978, when Rolex became Wimbledon’s official timekeeper of the Championships.  This sponsorship has proven to be an ideal fit for everyone concerned. Both Wimbledon and Rolex make use of a combination of tradition along with the use of modern technology. It’s also helpful in terms of the fact that Rolex has been a sponsor of a number of Wimbledon winners. When one of those sponsored players wins, it’s a safe bet that the current year’s victor will be wearing a Rolex when accepting the trophy.

How About the US Open?

The US Open is a hardcourt tennis event that is considered one of the most prestigious in the United States. Rolex is also a sponsor of this event. This has been the case since 2018. That year, Rolex began serving as the official timekeeper and the official timepiece for the Open. This was evident from the beginning that year, as the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center prominently displayed clocks and timepieces throughout the area.

Rolex also launched more initiatives to support other activities overseen by the United States Tennis Association, including training camps and other events. Ongoing support of tennis has led to Rolex being an official sponsor for all four Grand Slam events by the middle of 2021.

Who is the Brand Ambassador of Rolex?

Roger Federer is considered to be the official ambassador for Rolex in the world of tennis. Born in 1981, Federer is no stranger to tournament wins. His illustrious career includes 20 wins in the Grand Slam Men’s Singles, a record that he currently shares with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He is also ranked 16^th in the list of most successful players by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

While the owner of several Rolex watches, the one most commonly associated with Federer is the Oyster Perpetual Datejust II. He has long been a fan of this watch and often wears in at competitions, publicity events, and other activities associated with the game and with his relationship with Rolex.

Is Tiger Woods Sponsored by Rolex?

There’s no doubt that Tiger Woods is one of the most recognizable names in the golf world today. He first became associated with Rolex in 2011, the first year he was named as an ambassador. Currently, he wears one of several watches at different types of tournaments and other public events.

Rolex has other ambassadors who are also associated with the PGA. Some of the names have long histories within the sport while others have been around for a few years. One group of Rolex golf ambassadors is known as the New Guard; these are players who are beginning to come into prominence and have been named as brand ambassadors. As of 2020, Rolex is the most prominent of all watch brands to offer sponsorships in the world of golf.

The next time you are at a major sporting event, take the time to look around and see who is sponsoring the occasion. If it’s in the field of tennis, golf, and several other popular sports, there’s a good chance that you will find Rolex among the mix. Sit back, enjoy, and rest assured that the support given will help the game and the tournaments continue to be viable for fans in the years to come.