PRESS RELEASE

ROLEX RETURNS AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER TO THE US OPEN, FLUSHING MEADOWS

Geneva, , 26 August 2019 – From Monday 26 August to Sunday 8 September, the world’s elite will assemble in to contest the US Open, where Rolex will once again be the tournament’s Official Timekeeper.

The final ® tournament of the year, the US Open is one of the world’s oldest tennis events, with roots dating back to 1881. Its heritage and prestige align perfectly with Rolex’s founding principle of seeking perpetual excellence in all its undertakings. Rolex became the Official Timekeeper in 2018 and now partners all four Grand Slam tournaments.

In 1978 Rolex forged a seminal partnership with The Championships, Wimbledon, becoming the tournament’s Official Timekeeper and marking the beginning of its long-standing relationship with tennis. Since then, the brand has become one of the game’s most steadfast allies, extending its support not only to the four Grand Slam tournaments but also to leading team events, including the Laver Cup and the Davis Cup, as well as the major organizations that administer the sport worldwide. Some of the finest players, past and present, are part of the Rolex family of Testimonees, many of whom have experienced career-defining moments at the US Open.

RECORD-BREAKING ROD LAVER One such player is Rolex Testimonee Rod Laver, who won 11 Grand Slam men’s singles titles during a career that spanned the amateur and professional eras. Universally regarded as one of the greatest players to pick up a racket, the Australian’s legacy was cemented in New York exactly 50 years ago when he won his second singles crown, thereby completing the Calendar Grand Slam for a second time.

Achieved by only a select few in the , this feat represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport: holding all four Grand Slam trophies in the same year. Laver remains the only men’s singles player to accomplish this feat in the Open era.

Looking back on his US Open triumph from half a century ago, Laver said: “The year 1969 will always live long in my memory. Knowing I am a part of only a handful of people to achieve the Calendar Grand Slam is a humbling feeling; but to be the only man to do it twice is something I have only really come to terms with as I look back on my career. The 1969 US Open was the tournament that sealed it for me, so New York will always hold a special place in my heart.”

The legendary left-hander is not the only Rolex Testimonee to have built a remarkable record at the US Open. Chris Evert, one of the greatest players of her generation, also has her name etched deeply in the tournament’s history, having won six women’s

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singles titles over an eight-year period. She remains the only female player in the Open era to win four consecutive US Open singles titles.

Both Laver and Evert have been valued members of the Rolex family since 2012, with their success on the court – and in creating a legacy from which subsequent generations can prosper – embodying several of the qualities Rolex holds so dear: longevity, precision and exceptional performance.

A tournament of champions Fellow Rolex Testimonee returns to Flushing Meadows with the chance to break yet another record.

The Swiss master enjoyed one of the most dominant reigns of any player to have competed at when he won five straight titles between 2004 and 2008. Federer shares the record for most US Open men’s singles titles but another win here would see him take sole ownership of that honour and push his record number of Grand Slam men’s singles trophies to 21.

Angelique Kerber and both return to New York seeking a second US Open women’s singles crown. German Kerber won the second of her three Grand Slam singles titles here in 2016, while American Stephens succeeded her in 2017.

Other Rolex Testimonees travelling to New York include of Greece and Austrian . Tsitsipas enjoyed a successful start to his 2019 season by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, while Thiem is a two-time Roland- Garros finalist, in 2018 and 2019, and has previously reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

THE 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) (2016) Sloane Stephens (2017) * Tournament known as the US National Championship during the amateur era

ROLEX TESTIMONEES COmpeting at the Angelique Kerber Dominic Thiem Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Garbiñe Muguruza Stefanos Tsitsipas Roger Federer Jelena Ostapenko Sloane Stephens

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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 in- house 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 Rolex SA Virginie Chevailler [email protected] +41 22 302 26 19 rEvolution Merrick Haydon [email protected] +44 7748 186 833

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