Watchspotting at the Australian Open watches including Bulgari, Audemars Piguet and, of course, a ton of Rolex
Nick GouldEditor’s note: Yesterday we took at look at all of the Australian Open tennis players who actually wore their watches while competing. Today we’ll be shining a spotlight on the rest of the watches on display and some of them are real cross-court winners.
The final days of the 2021 Australian Open are underway in Melbourne. While there’s some great tennis on display on the courts, there are also some amazing watches to be spotted. Many of the players have sponsorship agreements in place with various watchmakers with some wearing these watches while playing while most pop a timepiece on their wrist after a match or for press conferences.
Semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas who is a Rolex Testimonee has regularly been wearing the coveted stainless-steel Daytona reference 116500 with white dial and ceramic black bezel.
The most blinged out watch at the 2021 Australian Open belonged to fellow Rolex Testimonee, Grigor Dimtrov. He was wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 116588TBR, which has been nicknamed “Eye Of The Tiger”. This timepiece immediately catches the eye (pun intended) with its diamond bezel and dazzling dial.
Another Rolex Testimonee, the Austrian player, Dominic Thiem, was wearing a white gold Yachtmaster on Oysterflex bracelet with a black dial. This has been his regular timepiece for over a year now.
Russian comrades, Danil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev played each other in the quarter finals, with Medvedev prevailing in three sets. Medvedev is sponsored by Bovet and sports a Ottantasei Tourbillon with a vivid blue platinum case. Rublev meanwhile is sponsored by Italian brand Bulgari, and wears one of the popular watches of last year, an Aluminium Chorongraph on rubber strap.
TAG Heuer’s ambassadors include Australian Alex De Minaur and Canadian player Felix Auger Aliassime.
De Minaur wears a black dial Carrera Chronograph on stainless-steel bracelet, while Aliassime has a time-only blue dial Link.
On Wednesday, Australian Dylan Alcott who is the No.1 ranked Men’s Wheelchair tennis player won his 7th Australian Open title. Alcott, who recently signed with Longines, had a stainless-steel Legend Diver with Milanese mesh bracelet on wrist when he lifted the trophy.
Four players wear timepieces while playing. Rafael Nadal, the 20-time grand slam champion is the most notable, with his specially designed Richard Mille RM 27-04 Tourbillon that’s able to withstand the force of the Spainard’s brutal groundstrokes. Nadal was knocked out in the quarter finals, after an epic five-set marathon against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
American Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam winner is a friend of Audemars Piguet and has regularly sported a different timepiece on her wrist over the years. For the 2021 season, she has worn a black dial Royal Oak Offshore Diver on rubber strap. Interestingly instead of wearing on her usual left wrist, she has switched to wearing it on the right wrist.
FP Journe is the sponsor of Donna Vekic, who was seeded 28 for the Open. She always plays with a F.P Journe Elegante with a diamond bezel on a pink strap, worn on her left wrist.
Naomi Osaka is the current World No.3 in the WTA and faces Jennifer Brady in the women’s final. Osaka recently signed a sponsorship agreement with TAG Heuer. She has been wearing a ladies Aquaracer on a blue rubber strap while playing. TAG will be hoping that millions of people get a close-up of the watch if Osaka can lift the trophy tonight.
Romanian Simona Halep is currently the world No 2 and has been a friend of Hublot since 2016.
She was sporting a Hublot Classic Fusion Black Magic with black dial and ceramic bezel.