The Watches Of Tennis Champions
As the tennis season draws to a close, supporters everywhere are looking back on what has been an incredible year of mixed emotions. The world’s star players Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka, have endured a roller coaster season with many spectacular performances and wins, and some very painful and morale damaging lows. However, this season has been mind-blowing for the fans favourite and this years Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, and the rising star Alexander Zverev, who has impressed crowds this season by attaining five titles at the fresh age of 20 years old.
Other than sharing immense passion for the game, a string of effortless performances and a determined attitude, these top tennis players have one other important feature in common…style. Throughout the year it’s been impossible not to be intrigued and fascinated by the selection of luxury watches that have been paraded across the world’s most renowned courts. Luxe Watches has kept one eye open for some truly stunning wristwatches, and the players have not disappointed.
We would love to sit here all day and discuss every single incredible timepiece that graced the courts this season. However, to save time we have narrowed them down to our top four favourite tennis brand ambassadors and their deluxe pieces.
Rafael Nadal World No.1
Richard Mille
Credit: Richard Mille and The Jewellery Editor
Since 2010 the current world No.1 has sported this incredible Richard Mille design, the RM 27-02 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal. The unique and super lightweight wristwatch design was influenced by the tennis stars power and agility. The contemporary design is made from high -tech materials like TPT quartz, and boasts a mechanical manual-winding feature, which retains a power reserve of 70 hours. The Tourbillon Rafael Nadal was designed with the intensity of tennis in mind, and so the fabric Velcro strap not only ensures comfort whilst on the move, but also ensures the timepiece’s security on the wrist.
Rafael Nadal is most famous for his extremely powerful backhand and serve; the Spaniard has been known to serve at 125 mph regularly, with his fastest serve being 135 mph. Richard Mille understood that a tennis watch must be able to withstand and absorb a large amount of g-force, and so designed the watch to withstand more than 5,000 Gs. The striking watch, which possess an intricately designed skeletonized dial (an iconic Richard Mille feature) is bound to be a favourite amongst keen watch collectors everywhere.
Check out our Richard Mille collection here.
Roger Federer World No.2
Rolex
Credit: Rolex and Watch Collectors
The Swiss legend has had arguably the most successful tennis career out of all male tennis players in history, after raking in almost $100,000,000 in prize money. Federer has had his fair share of winning trophy shots, and although those trophies are all very grand and beautiful, Luxe Watches is far more fascinated and intrigued by the stars wristwatch collection. The most popular of Federer’s vast Rolex collection is the 41 mm steel and yellow gold Date-just. The beautiful but classic timepiece is fitted with an oyster bracelet to ensure style and comfort.
The wristwatch features a smooth 18K gold bezel and a scratch resistant sapphire glass with the iconic cyclops lens magnifying the date indicator for visible convenience. The elegant design includes a modern grey dial and bold green roman numeral markers. The Date-just oozes elegance and sophistication and so its no surprise that the player with his own stylish fashion brand, chooses to wear this particular timepiece. Federer’s Date-just Ref.126303 retails for £8,850.
Check out our Rolex collection here.
Alexander Zverev World No.3
Richard Mille
Credit: Richard Mille
Following in Rafael Nadal’s footsteps is Alexander Zverev, who joined Richard Mille as a brand ambassador in 2016. The rising tennis prodigy has been wearing his Richard Mille RM 27-01 at the Nitto ATP Finals this year. The RM 27-01 is another incredibly innovative watch design that has triumphed watchmaking technique and technology.
Weighing just 19 grams, the RM 27-01 is another ultra lightweight design from Richard Mille, which allows players like Alexander and Nadal to play a match without ever being distracted by the presence of the wristwatch. The exceptional calibre can withstand accelerations of more than 5,000 Gs, all because of four tiny steel cables, which provide flexibility and prevents any force damaging the mechanisms. Alexander Zverev is one lucky 20 year old being able to wear an intelligently designed wrist watch the majority of us could only dream of possessing. The RM 27-01 retails at £750,000.
Stan Wawrinka World No.8
Audemars Piguet
Credit: BBC, Audemars Piguet, Tennis World USA
This years French Open finalist, Stan Wawrinka prefers to wear the sporty Audemars Piguet 44mm Royal Oak Chronograph Ref. 26470ST.OO.A104CR.01, which he personalises every tournament with a different coloured rubber strap. Wearing a watch whilst playing tennis isn’t easy, but what is even harder is wearing a weighty chronograph. Wawrinka’s attractive Royal Oak Chronograph features a stainless steel case, glare-proofed sapphire crystal glass and case back. The wristwatch posses a uniquely patterned blue dial and three sub dials, with a date indicator at 3 o’clock. Although this particular timepiece does not have the advantage of being ultra lightweight like the Richard Mille, it does make a bold and stylish statement. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wristwatches similar to Wawrinka’s start from £19,995.
Check out our Audemars Piguet collection here.
Not only are we all excited to see how the strong players perform in the coming season, we also cant wait to see if they are sporting any new stylish wristwatches!