The inaugural US Open, marking its entrance to the professional era, was won in 1968 by Arthur Ashe, after whom the main stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is named. Rolex is the Official Timekeeper of the event as part of its alliance with the USTA and its broader, long-standing support for tennis. A host of Rolex Testimonees will once again be seeking trophy honours at this, the fourth and final Grand Slam® tournament of the season.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer has won a record 20 men’s Grand Slam® tournament singles titles during his illustrious career, including five in succession at the US Open. Between 2004 and 2008, the Swiss maestro reigned supreme at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, where he has also been runner-up on two other occasions. Federer’s elegant style and technical precision has delighted the tennis world for more than two decades, never more so that at Flushing Meadows where he remains a fans favourite.
Chris Evert
When Chris Evert retired after a glorious 17-year professional career, she had won 18 women’s Grand Slam® tournament singles titles, including six at the US Open. The epitome of grace under pressure, the American’s effortless style disguised a fierce determination. In 1995 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens, the winner of the 2017 US Open women’s singles trophy, has forged a reputation for mental strength and resilience. She entered the tournament that year ranked World No. 83 but after beating several seeded opponents, won the final in straight sets. The Californian, also a finalist at Roland-Garros in 2018, is admired for her ability to overcome setbacks, focus on the task at hand and rise to the occasion.
The Datejust 41
The Datejust, thanks to its aesthetics and functions, transcends changes in fashion. Innovative yet always elegant, it was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a window at 3 o’clock. Like the champions of the US Open, the watch spans several eras while retaining the traditional qualities that make it one of the world’s most recognizable watches.
