PRESS RELEASE
ROLEX THE OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER AS US OPEN CELEBRATES 140TH EDITION AT FLUSHING MEADOWS
Geneva, Switzerland, 26 August 2020 – Rolex returns as the Official Timekeeper of the US Open for the 140th edition of the Grand Slam® tournament, which will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City from 31 August to 13 September.
Rolex partners all four tennis Grand Slam events, which represent the height of performance, achievement and tradition in the sport. It is an association that dates back to 1978, when the brand established its partnership with The Championships, Wimbledon. Rolex has been at the heart of Grand Slam tennis ever since and became Official Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the US Open in 2018.
Inaugurated in 1881 as the U.S. National Championship, the tournament has been graced by all the great players over the decades, among them a group of Rolex Testimonees who have all lifted the winner’s trophy. These elite athletes embody the special qualities for which Rolex is renowned – elegance, endurance, the highest levels of performance and the continuous pursuit of excellence. Testimonees whose talent, precision and perseverance have enabled them to capture multiple singles championships at the US Open include Chris Evert (US) and Roger Federer (Switzerland).
One Testimonee returning to Flushing Meadows aiming to join Evert and Federer as a multiple-time US Open champion is Angelique Kerber (Germany). The winner of three Grand Slam singles crowns and former World No. 1 is among the most consistent players on the tour. The gifted left-hander triumphed at Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2016 and has the all-round game to claim a second US Open singles title.
Joining Kerber at this year’s championship are two Rolex Testimonees sure to enjoy enthusiastic home support: Sloane Stephens, the 2017 women’s singles champion, and 16-year-old fellow American Coco Gauff, who shot to prominence on her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year. The youngest player to qualify for the main draw at the All England Club, the teenager belied her inexperience to reach the fourth round.
The men’s draw features two Rolex Testimonees who are among the world’s leading players. World No. 3 Dominic Thiem has already reached the final of three Grand Slam tournaments; the Austrian finished runner-up on the red clay of Roland-Garros in 2018 and 2019, and narrowly missed out on claiming his first Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, losing the final in five sets. This championship experience will give him the confidence he can go one step further at Flushing Meadows.
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Sharing Thiem’s burning ambition to claim a maiden Grand Slam title is Stéfanos Tsitsipás of Greece, the current World No. 6 and winner of the prestigious, season- closing Nitto ATP Finals in 2019, at which Rolex is also the Official Timekeeper.
Federer, a Rolex Testimonee, former World No. 1 and winner of a record 20 Grand Slam men’s singles championships, including an unprecedented five consecutive US Open titles between 2004 and 2008, is a natural inspiration to younger players like Thiem and Tsitsipás, as they strive to triumph in New York. While the Swiss icon will be missed playing at this year’s US Open, he continues to inspire the rising generation of young players, just as he was inspired by the greats who dominated the court before him; legends such as Swedish pair Björn Borg and Stefan Edberg, and Australia’s Rod Laver, all Grand Slam champions and members of the Rolex family of Testimonees.
It is no different in the women’s game, where the likes of Gauff and 2017 US Open champion Stephens are following in the footsteps of fellow Testimonees, such as Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain) and Evert, the American legend who jointly holds the record for US Open women’s singles titles with six.
Like the peerless Swiss watchmaker, all these Rolex Testimonees strive for perpetual improvement. It is that enduring determination that separates the greatest from the rest.
END noteS to editors
US OPEN ROLEX TESTIMONEE WINNERS Rod Laver (1962*, 1969) Chris Evert (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982) Stefan Edberg (1991, 1992) Pat Rafter (1997, 1998) Roger Federer (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) Justine Henin (2003, 2007) Juan Martín del Potro (2009) Angelique Kerber (2016) Sloane Stephens (2017) Bianca Andreescu (2019) *Tournament known as the U.S. National Championship during the amateur era
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ABOUT ROLEX An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces inhouse the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, Rolex is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.rolex.com
ROLEX TENNIS PRESS ROOM https://pressroom.rolex.com/en/sports- and-culture/partnership-activities/rolex-and- tennis-news.html
MEDIA CONTACTS Virginie Chevailler Rolex SA [email protected] +41 (0)22 302 2761
Merrick Haydon rEvolution [email protected] +44 (0)7748 186 833
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