Rolex and The Championships, Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz Looks to Defend Title
Geneva, 25 June 2024 – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club will next week stage the most prestigious event on the tennis calendar, The Championships, Wimbledon. From Monday 1–Sunday 14 July, the world’s best players will compete on Wimbledon’s hallowed lawns for the 137th time, all striving to etch their names into sporting history. United by the quest for performance, the relationship between Rolex and Wimbledon began almost half a century ago, in 1978, with the Swiss watchmaker supporting the leading tournaments and tennis talent ever since.
In keeping with tradition, the reigning gentlemen’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz will start play on Centre Court at 1.30 p.m. (local time) on Monday 1 July. Rolex Testimonee Alcaraz, who recently won his third Grand Slam® title at Roland-Garros, says:
“Honestly, the way that I played in that final last year, having all my closest people there and the atmosphere around the whole day, was a beautiful moment. At times, overcoming my emotions felt like a bigger challenge than winning match point. To win while representing Rolex was even more special because the brand is such an important part of Wimbledon. I’m really looking forward to playing the first match on Centre Court next week. It’s the only tournament where the defending champion starts play on the Monday, so it’s a great honour.”
Wimbledon’s Centre Court has been the scene of legendary performances and rivalries for more than a century. It was 20 years ago that Roger Federer returned to this revered tennis theatre to successfully defend his maiden Wimbledon title. Having joined the Rolex family in 2001, the Swiss maestro went on to forge an extraordinary career, winning a record eight Wimbledon singles titles and 20 Grand Slam® tournaments in all. Federer reflects:
“From the very first time I walked out on court at The All England Club as a junior, I felt that Wimbledon was special. When you look around and see the Rolex crown it gives you a familiar feeling, a sense of being at home. I remember saying that lifting the trophy was like holding the sun because it’s golden and was shining on that beautiful day in London. It feels extra heavy because of the weight of history that it carries.”
Among those standing in the way of Alcaraz also claiming back-to-back glory are several Rolex Testimonees, including Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton, Jannik Sinner and Stéfanos Tsitsipás. Fresh from winning an historic fourth Roland-Garros title earlier this month, Iga Swiatek will compete for the Venus Rosewater Dish alongside fellow Rolex Testimonees Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki and Qinwen Zheng in the ladies’ singles draw.
This year marks a significant moment for 2018 champion Angelique Kerber, who returns to Wimbledon for the first time since becoming a mother. A three-time Grand Slam® champion and Rolex Testimonee since 2017, Kerber says:
“I’m really looking forward to the competition, feeling the atmosphere from the crowd and sharing the court with the best players in the world. For women in any sport, I think it’s important to feel welcome and that if you dream and keep practising you can achieve great things. Winning Wimbledon in 2018 showed that hard work and perseverance pays off – it really was a dream come true.”
Wimbledon is the only one of the four Grand Slam® tournaments to be played on grass. Requiring meticulous year-round preparation, its pristine lawns are mown daily to an exact height of eight millimetres; a surface reserved for the select few who are privileged to hold a racket on these courts. If players are to realize their dreams and become a Wimbledon champion they must display the utmost skill, speed and technical precision during the fortnight of tennis.
First played in 1877, Wimbledon is the epitome of elegance and tradition and, as Official Timekeeper, Rolex supports its commitment to tennis excellence and the tournament’s treasured legacies.
