Roger Federer’s recent win makes it his 18th grand slam title
If you weren’t following the Australian Open and just tuned into the men’s singles finals early Sunday morning, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had traveled back in time. The blue hardcourts witnessed a Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal match—just like the good ol’ days. The rivalry between the Swiss and Spanish players is a legendary one, spanning over thirteen years. The 2017 edition of the Australian Open marks the 35th time they meet on the court. Although Nadal has won more times than Federer in their matchup history, Federer triumphed during their most recent battle.
And what a match it was! While the final score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours and 37 minutes, it could have been anyone’s game. With both players badly needing a comeback— Roger Federer at age 35 was No17 seed and Rafael Nadal at age 31 was No9 seed—great tennis from two veterans was on full display to the delight of spectators around the world.
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Federer and Nadal are both high profile brand ambassadors for top watchmakers. Federer is, of course, Rolex’s top athlete, while Nadal has been a part of the Richard Mille family since 2010. In fact, Nadal’s famous RM 27-02 Tourbillon watch was securely on his wrist throughout the match. On the other hand, Federer does not wear a watch when playing. However, Federer did strap on his stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710 BLNR with the distinct blue and black ceramic bezel during the trophy-giving ceremony. The Swiss win must have been especially sweet for Rolex since they are also a major sponsor of the Australian Open.
Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710 BLNR
Arguably one of Rolex’s most popular modern watches to date, the GMT-Master II ref. 116710 BLNR made its debut in 2013. Sporting a stainless steel body, a Cerachrom ceramic bezel, and the Maxi dial, the GMT-Master II has everything you would want in a contemporary luxury sports watch. Dubbed the “Batman”, the black and blue bezel actually came as a surprise since the company had previously admitted that it would be impossible to make a bi-color bezel in ceramic. But that “impossibility” was overcome and owners of the ref. 116710 BLNR are treated to a bezel that not only looks badass, but is also resistant to scratching and fading.
Next Grand Slam tournament on the ATP calendar is the Roland Garros French Open in June. If “the maestro” Federer will continue his winning streak remains to be seen. But if he plays as gracefully and powerfully as he did during the Australian Open finals against Nadal, it could very well be a possibility.
Did you watch the Australian Open finals? Who were you rooting for? Let us know in the comment section below.
