Rolex returns to New York as Official Timekeeper of the 2022 US Open
Fernando AldeaRolex is once again the Official Timekeeper of the 142nd US Open, which will be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York from August 29 to September 11.
With origins dating back to 1881, the US Open is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world and the fourth and final Grand Slam® tournament of the season. 2022 marks 25 years since Arthur Ashe Stadium opened its doors. Known for its electric atmosphere, there is no venue like this, the largest in tennis with a capacity of over 23,500. The energy generated by the fans is synonymous with the city that never sleeps. Since its opening, the stadium has been the scene of countless spectacular moments, many of which have contributed to the US Open's reputation as one of the most exciting sporting events in the world.
The conditions test the determination and skill of even the tennis elite, as the acrylic hard courts produce high bounce and a fast pace of play. Success in this crowded environment requires the highest levels of performance, composure, and skill.
Rolex's partnership with the US Open as Official Sponsor and Timekeeper is part of a long-standing relationship with tennis that began at the Wimbledon Championships in 1978. Since then, the brand has expanded its presence in the game and joined forces with a number of organizations, players, and tournaments, including all four Grand Slam events.
Laver, the record breaker
The US Open has been the stage for some of the most epic matches in sport and has hosted all the greats over the decades, including an exclusive group of Rolex Ambassadors who have triumphed here.
One of them is Rod Laver, who won 11 Grand Slam men's singles titles during a career that spanned both amateur and professional periods. Universally regarded as one of the greatest players ever to pick up a tennis racket, the Australian first won the U.S. singles crown 60 years ago, completing the calendar Grand Slam as an amateur.
Winning all four Grand Slam trophies in the same year represents the pinnacle of achievement in sport. Laver remains the only men's singles player to have accomplished this feat twice, seven years apart. Reflecting on his first US Open triumph, Laver said:
"The year 1962 will always live in my memory. Knowing that I'm one of the few to have achieved the calendar Grand Slam is humbling, but being the only man to have done it twice is something I've only been able to grasp by looking back on my career. New York will always hold a special place in my heart."
Another ambassador who has etched her name in the annals of the tournament is Chris Evert, whose 18 Grand Slam singles titles include a record six at this event. She remains the only woman in the Open era to win four consecutive US Open singles titles, achieving this on two surfaces. Her first three victories, from 1975 to 1977, came on the clay of Forest Hills, and her triumphs in 1978, 1980, and 1982 came on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
Roger Federer, the former world No. 1 and the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles championships, enjoyed one of the most dominant reigns of any player at the US Open, winning an unprecedented five consecutive titles between 2004 and 2008.
The dominance of Laver, Evert, and Federer in New York has helped cement their legacies, paving the way for the next generation of Rolex Ambassadors and aspiring athletes.
Ambassadors fighting for victory
Leading the Rolex family in 2022 is world No. 1 Iga Świątek, whose stellar season has brought her six tournament wins, including her second Grand Slam title, at Roland-Garros. Along the way, her 37-match winning streak equaled the longest stretch of victories in the women's game since 1990.
Cori Gauff will look to take another step forward after making her Grand Slam final debut against Świątek in Paris in June. The 18-year-old American has enjoyed a strong first half of the season, which has seen her reach a career-high world ranking of No. 11. She will aim to capitalize on the enthusiastic home support, just like the 2017 women's singles champion and compatriot Sloane Stephens.
Carlos Alcaraz, the young tennis sensation of the last 18 months, is hoping to build on his impressive performance at last year's US Open, when he reached the quarterfinals. The current world number 4 has claimed four titles so far this season, including two top-flight ATP Masters 1000 trophies, in Miami and Madrid. Joining him are Stéfanos Tsitsipás and Taylor Fritz, who also claimed ATP Masters 1000 titles this year, in Monte Carlo and Indian Wells, respectively, and will be looking for their first Grand Slam victory.
Rolex Ambassadors Winners of the US Open
- Rod Laver (1962*, 1969)
- Chris Evert (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982)
- Stefan Edberg (1991, 1992)
- Pat Rafter (1997, 1998)
- Justine Henin (2003, 2007)
- Roger Federer (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Juan Martín del Potro (2009)
- Angelique Kerber (2016)
- Sloane Stephens (2017)
- Bianca Andreescu (2019)
- Dominic Thiem (2020)
*Tournament known as the U.S. National Championship during the amateur era.
Rolex Ambassadors competing in the 2022 US Open
Carlos Alcaraz, Bianca Andreescu, Belinda Bencic, Grigor Dimitrov, Kyle Edmund, Roger Federer, Taylor Fritz, Caroline García, Cori Gauff, Garbiñe Muguruza, Lorenzo Musetti, Jelena Ostapenko, Jannik Sinner, Sloane Stephens, Iga Świątek, Dominic Thiem, Stéfanos Tsitsipás.
