Which Rolex does tennis pro Li Na wear on and off the Shanghai Masters court?
She coveted a Rolex, was bestowed one as a gift, and this year, Li Na helps commemorate the brand’s 10th year as official timekeeper and title sponsor of the Shanghai Masters
Rolex has marked its 10th anniversary as the official timekeeper and title sponsor of the Shanghai Masters, the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the year.
This year’s event at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena saw Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray among those battling it out on the court. The title and prize money of almost US$1.4 million was eventually won by upcoming star Daniil Medvedev.
China’s own tennis superstar Li Na, who retired in 2014, was the official guest in the Rolex box.
Li became a Rolex Ambassador in 2011 after becoming the first tennis player from an Asian nation to win a Grand Slam singles title with her win at Roland-Garros in Paris that year.
“Rolex is well known throughout the world as one of tennis’ greatest supporters, but this is especially true in China. Rolex has supported me for the last eight years, but for nearly 15 years it has invested in the game here and, as a result, the sport has truly flourished,” Li says.
Through its relationship with the Rolex Shanghai Masters it has provided Chinese tennis fans with some incredible moments over the last decade and for that I will always be grateful.”
On her own partnership with Rolex, Li recalls a feminine Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a pink floral dial and diamond bezel catching her eye while walking past a showcase after finishing her match at the Qatar Open in Doha in 2010.
“I told myself I was going to buy it when it was available; I didn’t mention it to anyone. When Rolex invited me to [its] family of ‘Testimonees’ in 2010, they presented me with a watch. I opened the box and it was the same watch I had wanted!” Li says.