Melbourne’s weather might be hot in December, but summer doesn’t really start till the Australian Open kicks off in the new year. It’s an event that brings the city to life (never more so than after a tough year of lockdowns), and it’s a moment when the sports lovers of the world turn their eyes to the iconic blue tennis courts next to the Yarra River. With the Australian Open comes the best tennis players in the world, a group of athletes with some pretty serious watches on their wrists, so we took a look at some of our favourite players to see what they packed in their bags for the first Grand Slam of 2022.
Rafael Nadal – Richard Mille RM 27-04
Rafa might not be number one when it comes to the World Tour rankings right now, but he’s certainly number one when it comes to watches on the court. For years he’s proudly worn a Richard Mille on his wrist, a privilege that was compounded when the brand announced his very own RM27-01 Rafa Nadal Edition back in 2014. This year he is wearing the Richard Mille RM 27-04, which is not only one of the might lightweight watches on the planet (just 30g), but also one of the most technically advanced, capable of withstanding 12,000 g-forces during his serves.
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Ashleigh Barty – Rado HyperChrome Ash Barty II
Ash Barty might be a pretty straight talker when it comes to facing the press, but she still has a strong appreciation for life’s finer things, including the watches she wears. As an ambassador for Rado, she designed her first limited-edition timepiece in 2019, and in 2022, she’s got another winner on the wrist in the form of the Rado HyperChrome Ash Barty II.
Dylan Alcott – Longines Legend Diver
We had the pleasure of chatting with Dylan ahead of this years Australian Open, and in the interview, I immediately spotted the Longines Legend Diver on his wrist. I asked him about it and it was a clear favourite, telling me, “I’ve had so many compliments on it,” and it isn’t hard to see why. Paired with a Milanese steel bracelet and the type of vintage-inspired aesthetic that should get any collector’s heart racing, it’s a lot of watch for the money.
Naomi Osaka – TAG Heuer Aquaracer Limited Edition Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka met her match against a tough Amanda Anisimova, but she came correct wearing a TAG Heuer she actually designed. Like Nadal, Osaka is one of the relatively few athletes who actually compete while wearing a watch, and the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Limited Edition Naomi Osaka was with her every point for the 2022 Australian Open. With diamonds on the green dial, the matching green rubber strap keeps it comfortable under the burning Aussie sun, without sacrificing how it looks on the wrist.
Daniil Medvedev – Bovet 1822 Flying Tourbillon OttantaSei
Medvedev has already been playing some brilliant tennis at the Australian Open this year, successfully beating Nick Kyrgios and Botic van de Zandschulp already. While you won’t spot it when the game clock is running, Medvedev will always be wearing his extremely impressive Bovet 1822 Flying Tourbillon OttantaSei at press conferences. It might not be a household name yet, but Bovet is well-known for its accuracy and the striking impression it leaves you with, much like Medvedev.
Gaël Monfils
Gaël is well-known for his explosive shots on court, but what isn’t as widely known about the French tennis player is he is also a passionate watch collector (he even has an Instagram for his watches). He’s such a fan that he doesn’t even have a watch sponsor, instead, building a million-dollar collection that features a number of different brands. This independence from any specific watchmaker has seen him selected on the deciding jury for the Oscar’s of watchmaking, also known as the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève. Because he doesn’t play while wearing a watch, it’s been tricky to spot what he brought with him from his home in Geneva, but safe to say, what he’s wearing is good.
Garbiñe Muguruza
Despite her second round defeat to Alizé Cornet this Australian Open, Garbiñe Muguruza still gets to wear a horological trophy on her wrist, this year in the form of the Rolex GMT-Master II 126719BLRO. As a Rolex ambassador, you’d expect her to be wearing something special, and this white gold travel watch with a dial made from meteorite certainly fits the bill.
Donna Vekić
If you needed any more proof that tennis players know a good watch when they see one, you only need look at the wrist of Donna Vekić. Her timepiece of choice at this Australian Open is the same as it was last year, but when it’s this good, you can see why you’d never take it off. Vekić wears a F.P Journe Elegante with a diamond bezel on a pink strap, a timepiece that has exploded in value over the last two years.
Jim Courier – Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi”
Jim Courier might not spend as much time on court as he did when he was the world number one, but he’s a strong member of the 2022 Australian Open commentary team and has equally strong taste in watches. He was spotted wearing a vintage Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi”, which is not only a sensational timepiece, but also the brand he was sponsored by during his four-times Grand Slam-winning career.
