Roger Federer personifies crucial Wimbledon 'connection'
The watch brand became the official timekeeper of the prestigious tennis tournament in 1978 and the eight-time champion Swiss sportsman is viewed as personifying the ethos of the partnership.
Spencer Dryer, founder of BQ Watches, said: 'It's not just about keeping time. It's about owning it - marking history in seconds, minutes, hours - while standing for something larger. And at Wimbledon, where tradition is not merely preserved but celebrated, Rolex fits in as naturally as ivy on the outer walls of Centre Court.
'If there's a face of the Rolex-Wimbledon connection, it's Roger Federer.
The Swiss legend and Rolex Testimonee has won Wimbledon eight times, gracing the grass courts with the same level of grace and restraint that defines a Datejust or a Day-Date. Even now, in retirement, Federer remains an icon of both tennis and watchmaking -timeless in every sense of the word. "
But with Roger, 43, having retired in 2022, Spencer believes there has been a "changing of the guard" with another Rolex ambassador, Carlos Alcarez, stepping into his place.
He added: "2025 is also about the next generation. Carlos Alcaraz, another Rolex ambassador, captured headlines - and hearts - with his electrifying wins in both the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon final. At just 20, he brought youthful flair and composure beyond his years.
Watching him lift the trophy, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual on his wrist, felt like a changing of the guard - in tennis, and in legacy.'
Spencer insisted the "right watch" is crucial to the tournament.
He said: 'The right watch at Wimbledon doesn't just tell time—it frames a moment.
'Whether it's the pause before a second serve or the roar of the crowd after match point, the best timepieces carry that same sense of composure, legacy, and quiet power.'
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Man of Many
2 days ago
- Man of Many
2025 US Open Prize Money Revealed
There's USD$90 million (AUD$138 million) worth of prize money on the line at the 2025 US Open. That's an increase of 20% from 2024's $75 million, making it the largest purse in tennis history. While the tennis season starts with a pretty deep pot at the Australian Open (AUD$96.5 million), the purse at the US Open is on another level. Singles winners will take home USD$5,000,000 (AUD$7,660,000) or more than twice the amount of money they win for winning at the Australian Open (AUD$3,500,000). Proving that it does pay to play at the top of your game, something that Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Jimmy Connors have both proven by winning the tournament a record five times each. Importantly, prize money for men and women is equal, and has been since the 1970s. That means the winner of both women's and men's Singles will earn the same USD$5,000,000, while the winner of the women's and men's Doubles will earn less at USD$1,000,000 (AUD$1,530,000) per team. Still, even those that don't make it out of the Round of 128 will comfortably cover the cost of hiring their private jet. Let's take a closer look at how much players earn at the 2025 US Open, according to the official information provided by the tournament. Aryna Sabalenka captured the women's crown at the 2024 US Open | Image: Supplied Singles Prize Money at 2025 US Open If you were considering a switch to professional, it might be a tad late. However, the prize money continues to climb at an all-time rate, so it might be time for the kids to pick up a tennis racket. This year, the winner of the US Open will take home $5,000,000 (+38.9% YoY) in both women's and men's singles. Even those that make it to the tournament and lace up their shoes will walk home with more than the average salary in Australia, pocketing USD$110,000 (+10.0% YoY) for their troubles. Singles Winner 2025: $5,000,000 (+38.9% YoY) 2024: $3,600,000 2023: $3,000,000 2022: $2,600,000 2021: $2,500,000 Singles Runner-Up 2025: $2,500,000 (+38.9% YoY) 2024: $1,800,000 2023: $1,500,000 2022: $1,300,000 2021: $1,250,000 Singles Semifinalist 2025: $1,260,000 (+26.0% YoY) 2024: $1,000,000 2023: $775,000 2022: $705,000 2021: $675,000 Singles Quarterfinalist 2025: $660,000 (+24.5% YoY) 2024: $530,000 2023: $455,000 2022: $445,000 2021: $425,000 Singles Round of 16 2025: $400,000 (+23.1% YoY) 2024: $325,000 2023: $284,000 2022: $278,000 2021: $265,000 Singles Round of 32 2025: $237,000 (+10.2% YoY) 2024: $215,000 2023: $191,000 2022: $188,000 2021: $180,000 Singles Round of 64 2025: $154,000 (+10.0% YoY) 2024: $140,000 2023: $123,000 2022: $121,000 2021: $115,000 Singles Round of 128 2025: $110,000 (+10.0% YoY) 2024: $100,000 2023: $81,500 2022: $80,000 2021: $75,000 Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson won the US Open men's doubles in 2024 | Image: Supplied Doubles Prize Money at 2025 US Open The focus remains on the Singles at the US Open, but the prize money for the Doubles winners is nothing to sneeze at. Winners of the Doubles at the US Open will take home $1,000,000 (+33.3% YoY) per team, which is $500,000 per player if winnings are shared equally. Here's how much prize money is paid to doubles players at the 2025 US Open, and how that's increased yearly since 2021. Doubles Winner (per team) 2025: $1,000,000 (+33.3% YoY) 2024: $750,000 2023: $700,000 2022: $688,000 2021: $660,000 Doubles Runner-Up (per team) 2025: $500,000 (+33.3% YoY) 2024: $375,000 2023: $350,000 2022: $344,000 2021: $330,000 Doubles Semifinalist (per team) 2025: $250,000 (+31.6% YoY) 2024: $190,000 2023: $180,000 2022: $172,000 2021: $164,000 Doubles Quarterfinalist (per team) 2025: $125,000 (+13.6% YoY) 2024: $110,000 2023: $100,000 2022: $97,500 2021: $93,000 Doubles Round of 16 (per team) 2025: $75,000 (+19.0% YoY) 2024: $63,000 2023: $58,000 2022: $56,400 2021: $54,000 Doubles Round of 32 (per team) 2025: $45,000 (+12.5% YoY) 2024: $40,000 2023: $36,800 2022: $35,800 2021: $34,000 Doubles Round of 64 (per team) 2025: $30,000 (+20.0% YoY) 2024: $25,000 2023: $22,000 2022: $21,300 2021: $20,000 Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori won the 2024 US Open mixed doubles | Image: Supplied Mixed Doubles Prize Money at 2025 US Open Like Doubles, Mixed Doubles doesn't draw an enormous crowd at the US Open. 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The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Sinner back with a bang to serve it up in Cincinnati
Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
Elena Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov cleared to return from suspension
The coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has been cleared by the WTA Tour to return from his suspension for a potential breach of its code of conduct. Stefano Vukov was provisionally suspended in January while the WTA conducted an investigation. The WTA announced in February the investigation had been completed and the ban remained in place, without specifying how long it would last. Vukov is now permitted to receive credentials allowing him access to player areas and practice courts at its events. "The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as set out in our WTA code of conduct and safeguarding code," the tour said in a statement. "Any sanctions issued following a breach of these safeguarding rules are carefully considered and are subject to appeal before an independent tribunal. "While case details remain confidential, we can confirm that Mr Vukov is eligible to receive credentials at WTA events." Rybakina announced before last year's US Open that Vukov would no longer be her coach. But prior to this year's Australian Open, Rybakina said he would be rejoining her team. She insisted he had never mistreated her during their time working together. Rybakina, ranked number 10 on the WTA Tour, most recently reached the semifinals in Montreal before losing to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the eventual champion. AP
