By Kien Lee
Reigning and first-time champion of The Championships, Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz defends his crown when the 137th edition of the Grand Slam tournament takes place from 1 to 14 July.
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and widely considered the most prestigious. First held in 1877, The Championships have come to embody the notion of British summertime.
Alcaraz will follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest tennis players of all time, fellow Rolex Testimonee Roger Federer, for it was the latter who first defended his crown in 2004 having won at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club the year before. Federer would become World No. 1 in the same year – holding the ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks – and achieved eight Wimbledon crowns during the course of a glittering career.
Having won three Grand Slam titles on hard, grass and clay courts, at the 2022 US Open, 2023 Wimbledon and 2024 French Open, Alcaraz became the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces.
Reflecting on his victory last year, the Spaniard opined on his triumph with Federer being his idol growing up, “Watching Roger Federer play tennis for so many years has been an amazing privilege for me. I learnt from him that tennis should be easy; he taught the world how to play in the most effortless way, with elegance and style.
“I also try to play like this, to follow my instincts, to relax and to enjoy my time on court. Winning Wimbledon was a completely surreal moment but one that I look back on with the happiest memories.”
Ahead of this year’s Championships, Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam® champion, who joined the Rolex family of Testimonees in 2001, shares, “As the defending champion, as soon as you walk through the gates of The All England Club and start practising, you know you’ll be playing on the opening Monday, which gives you that extra bit of confidence. Wimbledon is the only tournament with this tradition and it’s very special.”
Carlos Alcaraz will start play at 1.30 p.m. on Centre Court of The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, to kick off the main draw of the 137th edition of The Championships, Wimbledon.
Rolex and Tennis
For almost 50 years, Rolex has championed the passion, skill and technical precision required to win Wimbledon – the epitome of tennis elegance and tradition. The Swiss watchmaker became Official Timekeeper of the event in 1978 and has supported the most prestigious tournaments across the men’s and women’s game ever since.
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