This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Australian Open renaming its center court Rod Laver Arena (Photo: Rod Laver Arena)
Loyal supporters of a game go the distance, and few do it better than Rod Laver, who is often spotted courtside at Grand Slam tournaments worldwide. Fans can expect to see him at the 2025 Australian Open (Jan 12 to 26), which holds special meaning for the Queensland-born tennis legend — the centre court at Melbourne Park was named for him in 2000.
Rolex testimonees Jannik Sinner and Qinwen Zheng made their Grand Slam breakthroughs at the Rod Laver Arena last year, before going on to carve their mark on the tennis calendar. Zheng, 21, notched her first Grand Slam final appearance at the Australian Open, en route to clinching a gold medal at Paris 2024, becoming China’s first singles player to win an Olympic title in tennis.
“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,” she says.
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Laver has achieved feats that people recall with awe and admiration. He is the only player to have completed two calendar Grand Slams, winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 1962, and again in 1969, the latter a feat still unmatched in the Open Era.
Laver’s career lasted 24 years. Equally enduring is Rolex’s relationship with tennis. The Swiss luxury watch brand first partnered Wimbledon in 1978 and went on to support leading tournaments and players. In 2008, it became official timekeeper of the Australian Open, keeping pace with champions who push to give their best in every game.
This article first appeared on Jan 13, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
