Rolex and The Championships, Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz Seems to be to Defend Title
Geneva, 25 June 2024 – The All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership will subsequent week stage essentially the most prestigious occasion on the tennis calendar, The Championships, Wimbledon. From Monday 1–Sunday 14 July, the world’s greatest gamers will compete on Wimbledon’s hallowed lawns for the 137th time, all striving to etch their names into sporting historical past. United by the hunt for efficiency, the connection between Rolex and Wimbledon started nearly half a century in the past, in 1978, with the Swiss watchmaker supporting the main tournaments and tennis expertise ever since.
In line with custom, the reigning gents’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz will begin play on Centre Court docket at 1.30 p.m. (native time) on Monday 1 July. Rolex Testimonee Alcaraz, who just lately received his third Grand Slam® title at Roland-Garros, says:
“Truthfully, the way in which that I performed in that remaining final yr, having all my closest individuals there and the environment round the entire day, was an attractive second. At instances, overcoming my feelings felt like an even bigger problem than successful match level. To win whereas representing Rolex was much more particular as a result of the model is such an essential a part of Wimbledon. I’m actually trying ahead to enjoying the primary match on Centre Court docket subsequent week. It’s the one event the place the defending champion begins play on the Monday, so it’s an incredible honour.”
Wimbledon’s Centre Court docket has been the scene of legendary performances and rivalries for greater than a century. It was 20 years in the past that Roger Federer returned to this revered tennis theatre to efficiently defend his maiden Wimbledon title. Having joined the Rolex household in 2001, the Swiss maestro went on to forge a rare profession, successful a report eight Wimbledon singles titles and 20 Grand Slam® tournaments in all. Federer displays:
“From the very first time I walked out on court docket at The All England Membership as a junior, I felt that Wimbledon was particular. While you go searching and see the Rolex crown it provides you a well-recognized feeling, a way of being at residence. I keep in mind saying that lifting the trophy was like holding the solar as a result of it’s golden and was shining on that lovely day in London. It feels further heavy due to the load of historical past that it carries.”
Amongst these standing in the way in which of Alcaraz additionally claiming back-to-back glory are a number of Rolex Testimonees, together with Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton, Jannik Sinner and Stéfanos Tsitsipás. Contemporary from successful 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 within the girls’ singles draw.
This yr marks a major second for 2018 champion Angelique Kerber, who returns to Wimbledon for the primary time since changing into a mom. A 3-time Grand Slam® champion and Rolex Testimonee since 2017, Kerber says:
“I’m actually trying ahead to the competitors, feeling the environment from the gang and sharing the court docket with one of the best gamers on the earth. For ladies in any sport, I feel it’s essential to really feel welcome and that should you dream and maintain practising you’ll be able to obtain nice issues. Profitable Wimbledon in 2018 confirmed that arduous work and perseverance pays off – it actually was a dream come true.”
Wimbledon is the one one of many 4 Grand Slam® tournaments to be performed on grass. Requiring meticulous year-round preparation, its pristine lawns are mown every day to a precise top of eight millimetres; a floor reserved for the choose few who’re privileged to carry a racket on these courts. If gamers are to understand their goals and turn into a Wimbledon champion they need to show the utmost talent, velocity and technical precision throughout the fortnight of tennis.
First performed in 1877, Wimbledon is the epitome of class and custom and, as Official Timekeeper, Rolex helps its dedication to tennis excellence and the event’s treasured legacies.