When Qinwen Zheng made her groundbreaking Grand Slam debut at the 2024 Australian Open, one particular figure watched from the front rows. It was the symbol of tennis history himself: Rod Laver. Although a familiar courtside presence at tournaments around the globe, the Australian Open in particular holds a special place in his heart—because the Centre Court was named in his honour back in 2000. It is also here at Melbourne Park that countless tennis legends have made their mark in the sport’s storied history.
For Zheng, 2024 was a standout year. At just 21, she reached her first Grand Slam final in Melbourne, marking the beginning of an unforgettable season that culminated in a gold medal performance in Paris later that summer. Considering how it felt to play in front of Laver, Zheng said, “It was a special moment having different generations of tennis players and members of the Rolex family on the same court. Rod Laver is a legend and for him to be attending these tournaments is amazing. I think I have seen him every year at different Grand Slams; he’s always there watching tennis, and you can really see the love and passion that he still has for the sport.”
Laver, whose legacy remains ever-present, is an iconic figure in tennis. As the only player to have won two calendar Grand Slams—an achievement still unmatched in the Open Era—he’s a living testament to a pivotal era of the sport. His feats in 1962 and 1969—winning the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year—are indeed legendary. This year, the sport will celebrate 65 years since Laver claimed his first Grand Slam title at his home tournament in 1960. Since then, Laver has witnessed the evolution of tennis and, notably, the rise of Rolex as a steadfast partner in the sport.
The Swiss watchmaker’s relationship with tennis began in 1978 when they became the Official Timekeeper of The Championships, Wimbledon, before extending to their current role at the Australian Open, a partnership that started in 2008. It’s a relationship that endures as long as the champions who grace the courts continue to define the rhythm of tennis all across the world. Emphasising the significance of this sporting arena is former women’s singles World No.1 and Rolex Testimonee Caroline Wozniacki.
The Danish player achieved one of the greatest accolades of her career on his court, lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the 2018 Australian Open. “Generations and generations of tennis players before me have put tennis on the map so that we are able to play today. Before walking into the Rod Laver Arena, you see Rod Laver’s quote, and every time I look at it, it gives me a sense of calm and belief that I can do it; that I’m going out there to win, and to be the best tennis player on that court.” reflected Wozniacki.
All images courtesy of Rolex.
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