Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Rolex Becomes Official Sponsor for The U.S. Open




...The Perfect Fit...


The U.S. Open

Rolex Becomes Official Sponsor


The three greatest games are tennis, golf, and chess, and this is a great story about tennis and golf. Rolex has been a supporter of Tennis for many decades as well as being the Official Timekeeper for Wimbledon. Rolex and the U.S. Open recently announced Rolex has become the tournaments Official Timekeeper and Official Timepiece immediately and will debut with preparations for the upcoming 2018 US Open which will run from August 27, 2018, to September 9, 2018. Citizen was the previous official timekeeper of the U.S. Open for more than a quarter century.


The U.S. Open recently said that at the 2018 US Open, Rolex timepieces and clocks will be visible throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including the signature clock that is affixed to the outer façade of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

There are famous Rolex Clocks all over the world at places like Pebble Beach, and Wimbledon, so we will probably see something like the one in the photo below.




Speaking of Billy Jean King and Arthur Ashe, one thing they have in common is their love of Rolex. The more I think about Rolex becoming the lead sponsor of The US Open, the more it seems like a perfectly natural fit. 


Arthur Ashe was one of the greatest tennis players in history, and every time I watch the US Open and I see the Arthur Ashe Stadium, I think of the photo below:

"I only wear Rolex." –Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe pictured above in 1970


The US Open recently released the following statement:

Swiss watchmaker Rolex, a longtime supporter of tennis, has become an official sponsor of the US Open and will serve as the tournament’s Official Timekeeper and Official Timepiece starting immediately with preparations for the 2018 US Open.

At this year’s tournament, Rolex timepieces and clocks will be visible throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including the signature clock that is affixed to the outer façade of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

In addition to its new US Open sponsorship, Rolex will sponsor the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, completing its sponsorship of all nine Masters Series events.

The new multi-year partnership between the USTA and Rolex also includes Rolex's support of the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., as well as the programs of the USTA Foundation, the official charitable arm of the USTA, which assists under-resourced youth.

“Rolex is a true champion of tennis that shares the USTA’s passion for the sport,” said Gordon Smith, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, USTA. “As we celebrate 50 years of the US Open, we are delighted to welcome this iconic, luxury brand as a partner, and we are thankful for their support of the USTA’s mission to grow the game.”

Rolex has supported tennis for the last 40 years, beginning with its association with Wimbledon in 1978 and serving as Associate Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Australian Open.

“It was only natural that Rolex would seek to build on its Grand Slam heritage, in this case through an association with the USTA and its flagship tournament, the US Open,” said Stewart Wicht, President and CEO of Rolex Watch USA. “The partnership brings together two organizations who share a passion for quality, excellence, precision and performance.”

The US Open, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, will take place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 9 in New York

World class tennis players who wear Rolex are common as we see in the photo below of Björn Borg & John McEnroe both sporting Rolex Datejust models back in the day...It's interesting to notice that one is wearing a Datejust on a Jubilee, and the other on an Oyster bracelet...Comme ci, comme ça...


Speaking of Björn Bjorg and John McEnroe, we see them below with the greatest tennis player of all time, who happens to be a Rolex Ambassador, and that is Roger Feder.


 In the photo below we see Björn Borg chatting with now former Rolex CEO Gian Riccardo Marini, and not only is Björn Borg still wearing Rolex, but he is also a Rolex brand ambassador.