Wrist Game Strong – The Luxury Watches of Tennis’ Biggest Stars

Just a few weeks ago, I (unfortunately) witnessed Jannik Sinner lose the Roland Garros men’s final to an unwavering Carlos Alcaraz. And yeah, it stung watching my Italian guy so close to lifting that trophy only to be outplayed by Carlitos down the stretch. 

But hey, it’s Wimbledon season now. Maybe my dear Jannik will have better luck on the grass, and maybe it’ll be another prime opportunity to do some watch-ing. Get it? Beyond the blistering groundstrokes, volleys and those silky down-the-line winners, there’s another spectacle happening courtside: the wrist game.

In case you’ve missed it, luxury watch brands have fully infiltrated elite sports like tennis, F1 and golf. You’ll spot them everywhere: on giant billboards, accessorized into athletes’ partnerships and, of course, perched on the wrists of multimillionaire champions. It’s all about projecting quality, exclusivity and timeless style by aligning with the world’s most prestigious athletes.

As the tennis world reaches its peak season, we at Funktasy figured it’s the perfect moment to take a look around and admire the timepieces that accompany these athletes from the locker room to the winner’s podium. Because, let’s face it: who doesn’t love a sleek, envy-inducing watch, especially when it’s wrapped around the wrist of someone lifting Grand Slam trophies?

Here’s our roundup of tennis’ most iconic wrist game, served up on a silver platter.

Disclaimer: All prices listed in this article are as of 2025 MSRP. 

Jannik Sinner – Rose Gold Rolex Daytona

Even though his French Open ended with a bitter taste, the No. 1 tennis player in the world surely can’t complain about his Rolex Daytona, worn on the occasion of this year’s prestigious clay court Grand Slam, as well as during the Italian Open. 

Despite the funny memes and jokes that were going around during the Parisian tournament about his court outfit, guilty of making him look like Luigi from SuperMario, Sinner is actually an icon of elegance and style, effortlessly radiating coolness through his quiet confidence and classy look. Just take a peek at how he’s seamlessly wearing his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona – a stuttering piece of 18k rose gold and sundust index dial. The watch is a perfect match for the Italian prodigy’s cool and composed demeanour on and off the court, reflecting his quiet confidence.

Now I bet you want to know the price, right? You’d need around 39,300 USD to secure one like Sinner’s.

Carlos Alcaraz – Platinum Rolex Daytona

Funnily enough, this year’s Roland-Garros champion also wears a Daytona. Beyond ripping bullet-like forehands and artfully sliding on the tennis court, the two finalists are both, indeed, brand ambassadors for Rolex. 

After almost 5 and a half hours of a five-set thriller with Sinner, Carlitos came out on top and was seen rocking a beautifully elegant Rolex Cosmograph Daytona while lifting the trophy. The watch was in its platinum model version, with an ice-blue baguette dial and a sporty black rubber strap (an undeniable sharp choice by the Spaniard). It featured top-notch Swiss manufacturing that’s precise, robust and reliable, just like his game. The Daytona has its origins in high-speed sports car racing (specifically endurance racing) and embodies the concept of razor-sharp precision under pressure — something that Alcaraz seems to know a lot about, considering the way he saved three championship points during the RG final.

Its price tag is around 79,300 USD.

Rafael Nadal – Richard Mille Carbon RM 27-05 Limited Edition

And now, let’s shift the focus from today’s stars to some of the older legends of the game. 

Roughly one year ago, Rafa was playing his last ever Roland-Garros tournament before retiring at the end of the season at 38 years old. On that occasion, he debuted an awe-inspiring watch, the Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, which was part of the collaboration between the watch brand and the tennis player. 

It captures the essence of avant-garde technology and design, with a strong carbon case and a manual winding flying tourbillon movement. But maybe the most incredible features of all are its light weight (only 11.5 grams without the strap) and its crazy capability of withstanding G-forces up to 14,000 g, making it the world’s lightest and most resilient mechanical tourbillon watch ever produced. I’d say it’s a perfect match for Rafa’s sturdy and swift playing style.

This is a very unique piece. It’s a limited edition, and only 80 pieces exist. The price is as extraordinary as the watch itself, hovering around 1.1 million USD.

Roger Federer – Wimbledon Rolex Datejust

Another member of the “Big Three” alongside Rafa, Roger certainly knows how to dress to impress, even when he’s not playing tennis on the center court. 

Most of us may know him for his flair and elegance in the arena, but he undoubtedly also has class when he’s watching tennis matches. If you aren’t sure, just look at how suave he was last year at Wimbledon. The eight-time Wimbledon champion was seen on the All England Club’s stands sporting a grey suit, black sunglasses and a Rolex Datejust 36 – 36 mm, Oystersteel, yellow-gold and with a Wimbledon-themed dial that features Roman numerals in dark green, resembling the lawns of London’s most famous tennis club. It was an homage to the most iconic tennis tournament, which certainly has a special place in Federer’s heart, considering how dominating he was on that surface.  

Roger’s Rolex is priced at around 14,750 USD.

Novak Djokovic – Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic

To close off our list, here’s another legend of the sport and the only one among the “Big Three” who still hasn’t retired: Novak Djokovic. He’s recently won his 100th career trophy, an astounding milestone and the cherry on top of his amazing journey in tennis that’s seen him claim the most Grand Slam titles in history.

Along with his fellow rivals, he knows how to wear a good watch. 

His latest collaboration with Hublot, indeed, speaks for itself: the Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic. This watch is a game changer, made out of the Serbian champion’s rackets and polos used during the 2023 season. If you wear it, you’re not just wearing a random timepiece: you’re wearing a part of tennis history. It’s 42 mm, water resistant and incredibly lightweight at just 49.5 grams, which is lighter than a tennis ball. Obviously, it’s a limited edition and only 100 pieces are available. 

This magnificent watch is worth around 52,700 USD.

From Sinner’s Sleek Rose Gold Rolex to Nadal’s Million-dollar Richard Mille…

One thing’s clear: tennis’ wrist game is as competitive as the sport itself. Luxury watches have become an essential part of the champions’ uniform, blending performance, craftsmanship and status with every tick. 

Whether you’re courtside at Wimbledon or just daydreaming of your own wrist upgrade, you can take inspiration from the wardrobes of these players, because, when it comes to style, these tennis icons just never miss.