US Open Heralds the Return of the Leading Tennis Stars

One of the most formidable challenges in tennis, the US Open marks the final date in this year’s Grand Slam® calendar and promises to once again light up New York. From Sunday 30 August to Sunday 13 September, the world’s leading players and aspiring talents will aim to channel the contagious energy that pulses through the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, as the Rolex clocks keep time courtside. After winning his second US Open title last year and completing the career Grand Slam® in January, Rolex Testimonee Carlos Alcaraz returns from injury to defend his crown.

Photo credit: © Rolex

Alcaraz, who dropped just one set on his path to the trophy last year, reflects on what set that victory apart:

“Arthur Ashe Stadium always has an incredible energy, but last year it felt even more special. The crowd gives you this unique mix of passion, noise and excitement – it’s a stadium that pushes you. During the final, I could feel the support in every big moment, and it helped me stay aggressive and confident. Winning my second US Open title, with that atmosphere, is something I will always carry with me.”

An electric atmosphere has defined the US Open ever since the event transitioned to its current home in 1978. This bold move from the green clay at West Side Tennis Club established it as the first hard-court Grand Slam® tournament, coinciding with the year Rolex’s tennis journey began. Chris Evert, who had won the three previous editions, prevailed again by seamlessly adapting her game to the new, faster surface.

Photo credit: © Rolex/UPI/Bettmann Archives via Getty Images

Over the decades, the American has witnessed first-hand the tournament’s evolution and Rolex’s flourishing relationship with tennis, which includes its role as Official Timekeeper of the US Open. Evert, a Rolex Testimonee and 18-time Grand Slam® champion, says:

“Rolex adds a lot of prestige and legacy to our sport and the fact it supports all four Grand Slams is very appropriate. I love the loyalty they have to the legends of the game like Rod Laver, Björn Borg, Roger Federer and myself. Rolex hasn’t forgotten who was there during the early years, who was there to pave the way for current and future generations.”

Following strong North American hard-court swings, the Rolex Testimonees will travel to New York determined to create their own history across 15 days of action. With Taylor Fritz winning in Washington, Ben Shelton claiming back-to-back titles in Canada and Coco Gauff lifting the Cincinnati trophy for the second time last week, the home favourites will be looking to continue their momentum on US soil.

Photo credit: © Rolex

Gauff joins fellow Grand Slam® champions Iga Świątek, Mirra Andreeva and Sloane Stephens in the women’s draw, while Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari and Qinwen Zheng seek their breakthrough at the sport’s highest level. On the men’s side, Fritz and Shelton are bidding to become the first American to win the singles title since 2003. Their path to glory will not be straightforward, with Alcaraz eyeing the top prize again and Stéfanos Tsitsipás among those bidding for a maiden Grand Slam® victory.

The US Open has been the stage for epic rivalries and groundbreaking innovations since its inauguration in 1881. It was the first Grand Slam® tournament to introduce equal prize money for men and women, night sessions, tiebreaks and electronic line-calling, all of which have revolutionized the sport. Throughout its 145-year history, the US Open has been at the vanguard of transformative change in the sport, a legacy that resonates with Rolex’s own pioneering role and reputation for excellence in the world of watchmaking.

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Source: Rolex. Photo credits: © Rolex.

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