Advantage, Rado – a Relationship Between Timekeeping & Tennis

Rado has undeniable ties to the world of tennis and further strengthens them by bringing a new ambassador on board, along with a new limited edition watch designed in collaboration with the British No.1 player, Cameron Norrie. But what makes a Rado watches so well-equipped for timekeeping on the courts?

Tennis, the game of fine margins, is celebrated in true British spirit each year at Wimbledon - one of the most unpredictable tournaments in the world. Our Pimms-slurping nation likes to settle down to a tub of juicy strawberries and cream, whilst watching the world’s best racket champions go head-to-head as they thrash it out on Britain’s grass courts for an entire two weeks. The chants from Henman Hill and the hustle and bustle of the grounds are all part of the experience at Wimbledon each year, but when silence falls over centre court as the quarter-finals are due to commence this week, professional players and tennis fans alike will be keeping track of accurate time with their choice of luxury watch. Whilst Rolex has inextricable links to Wimbledon, several successful tennis players class Rado as their choice of watch, and there are no prizes for guessing why.

Rado’s Relationship with Tennis

Rado has been sponsoring tennis for over three decades now. As a result, it is proud to support some of the brightest names in the sport. The watchmaker’s corner clocks have been spotted keeping track of every moment of the match, whilst its eminently stylish wristwatches prove to be the perfect tokens of success to celebrate victory with. The brand has sponsored the likes of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel, Austria’s Erste Bank Open, the Mexican Open, and the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad to name just a few. Rado’s relationship with Swiss tennis, in particular, has been strengthening since 2016. It includes a title sponsorship for the biggest Swiss mass sports event in tennis, the Rado Interclub Championships, where 30,000 tennis players participate. Rado further leverages these links with the sport with its YoungStars programme, supporting up-and-coming tennis players from all over the world.

Rado’s sporting ambassadors

After winning Wimbledon’s Women's Singles Trophy and the Australian Open in 2022, tennis sensation, Ash Barty ended her spine-tingling performances on centre court with the announcement of her retirement last year. She leaves her name etched into the Women’s Honour Board at Wimbledon but continues her relationship with Rado, with a recently released limited edition watch. The Rado True Square x Ash Barty Limited Edition watch has been designed in collaboration with Ash Barty. The special timepiece, in honour of the No.1 women’s tennis player, has been crafted from high-tech ceramic in a polished light rose colour and features a white mother-of-pearl skeletonised dial adorned with a rose gold-coloured tennis ball motif above 6 o’clock. The watch, exclusive to just 996 pieces worldwide, is finished with the player’s digitally printed signature upon a sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback.

The most recent young pro to join Rado’s line-up of ambassadors is Cameron Norrie who recently got knocked out of the Wimbledon championship after being defeated by Chris Eubanks in the second round. The South African who grew up in New Zealand has been representing Great Britain since 2013. Having been part of the watchmaker’s YoungStars programme, this next step as an ambassador for the brand further entwines his love for Swiss watchmaking and professional tennis playing. Whether wearing a Rado watch on or off the court, the brand believes that finding and feeling the winning edge is what makes timekeeping with a Rado watch so special. To do this, Norrie chooses the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver watch but has recently unveiled a new collaborative design with the Swiss watch manufacturer.

Game, set, match, Rado

So, what makes a Rado watch so well-equipped for keeping time on centre court? Well, whether worn during a match or enjoyed by tennis fans outside the court lines, Rado watches are built from avant-garde materials that are strong and hardy like high-tech ceramic and sapphire crystal glass, making them perfect for endurance sports that are subject to plenty of shock impact. In the past, Rado has honoured its role in tennis with watches inspired by the sport. Take, for example, the Rado HyperChrome Tennis Chronograph Limited Edition watch, designed for measuring time between points. The chronograph watch features a tachymeter scale and a profile crafted from stainless steel and tough high-tech ceramic.

This year, to mark Norrie’s role as brand ambassador for Rado, a new limited edition watch from the Captain Cook series has been released. The Captain Cook x Cameron Norrie Limited Edition watch is crafted from stainless steel with a polished green high-tech ceramic rotating bezel and an engraved and luminous-filled 60-minute track. The British green colour used for the bezel and gradient dial is reminiscent of the centre court grass at Wimbledon and the model is limited to just 823 pieces worldwide – an ode to the tennis player’s birthday. With an 80-hour power reserve and a stylish dark green leather pouch highlighted by Norrie’s signature, the watch can be enjoyed on a classic black leather strap or a green and white NATO band.

World-class tennis player Andy Murray has, in the past, enjoyed a successful sponsorship with the watchmaker, having sported the likes of the D-Star Automatic Chronograph and the HyperChrome in recent years. The star was crowned Wimbledon champion back in 2013 for the first time whilst wearing the HyperChrome Chronograph on his wrist, made from black scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic.

Whether you have experienced the precision of a Rado watch on your wrist or not, there is no denying the brand’s synonymous links with the world of tennis and Wimbledon. Should you be contemplating adding a Rado watch to your collection, there could be no better time to do it than now, with a plethora of popular Rado watches in stock at Jura Watches waiting for your perusal.

You can view our entire range of Rado watches at Jura Watches here, or enquire about a particular model today by calling and speaking to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453. Likewise, you can enquire with us by emailing Jura Watches at help@jurawatches.co.uk.