At Roland-Garros, Rolex Sets the Rhythm
How the Swiss watchmaker became synonymous with tennis, one electrifying match at a time.
I’ve loved tennis since high school, which means I’ve watched about 16 Roland-Garros tournaments (also known as the French Open) in my life. My highlight reel includes Italian player Francesca Schiavone collapsing in ecstasy onto the burnt-orange court after winning the final in 2010, and a victorious Rafael Nadal playfully pretending to bite his Roland-Garros trophies (as the record holder for the most clay-major wins, he’s done this a lot). Of course, I watched all of this on television—until this year, when I finally stepped onto the French Open grounds and took it all in from my perfect vantage point in the Rolex box, the famed Court Phillipe-Chatrier, with its suede-like clay, revealed before me.
Rolex and tennis have a long history: the watchmaker became Wimbledon’s official timekeeper in 1978. Today, it’s the official timekeeper of all four Grand Slams—including Roland-Garros, as of 2019—as well all other top-tier stops on the ATP and WTA tours. Watch a match sometime and you’ll spot the clock in the right-hand corner of the court, with the telltale gold crown logo beside it.
Unlike other sports, tennis has no set time periods. Games last as long as they need to—with matches between two elite players often stretching past the five-hour mark, and the record for the longest match at a major tournament coming in at 11 hours and five minutes (yes, I watched it). Spectators with tickets to an evening match might not get home until after midnight—not that they’d complain.
Beyond keeping time, Rolex also recognizes the best players in the game, anointing them as Rolex Testimonees. Much like a luxury fashion house might tap a starlet with an Oscar nom, Rolex selects both established and up-and-coming players, from all-time great Roger Federer to Canadian phenom Victoria Mboko and two-time French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz. It’s all part of the Swiss watchmaker’s mission to celebrate human achievement, and show up for the milestones.
Rolex Testimonee (and Canadian player) Victoria Mboko at Roland-Garros in 2026
And although the pros don’t tend to wear their watches while playing, a Rolex is embedded in many of the game’s core moments, like Coco Gauff’s French Open victory in 2025, when she flashed the “Red Grape” dial of her Oyster Perpetual as she held her trophy in front of the roaring crowd, or when 2025 men’s singles runner-up Jannik Sinner signed autographs for fans while sporting a Daytona.
While many luxury brands have recently deepened their relationships with professional sports leagues, Rolex has been at it for half a century. In the Rolex box at Roland-Garros, VIP clientele dine on a seasonal menu, sip champagne, and take in matches from an elegant suite draped in forest-green hues. And while the perks might be plush, it’s ultimately all about the game—like watching Gaël Monfils, the French player beloved for his cross-court slides and impossible gets, play his final match at Roland-Garros following the announcement of his retirement. A worthy new addition to my highlight reel.
Liz Guber is the Editor-in-Chief of FASHION. In her own words, she's "less interested in telling you what to buy, but rather why you want to buy it." Her work has appeared in The Kit, ELLE Canada, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and Girlboss.
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