Former World No. 1 Tennis Player Jim Courier Talks Grand Slam Wins and Rolex Collaboration

Over the years, Rolex has regularly added tennis players to its list of witnesses, a title it bestows upon its ambassadors. And they know how to choose them. Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the men’s and women’s singles at Roland Garros this year, and Polish clay-court specialist Iga Swiatek are Rolex witnesses, having been spotted very early in their careers.

In recent years, the brand’s association with the most iconic sporting tournaments has also strengthened. Closely linked to Wimbledon since the 1970s, Rolex became the official timekeeper of the Australian Open in 2008. Just before the pandemic, it completed the arrangement by becoming the exclusive partner of the US Open in 2018 and Roland-Garros in 2019, with the French Open becoming the final piece of the puzzle that unmistakably linked the watchmaker to the four Grand Slam tournaments.

You just know if you see that green clock in the corner [of the court] “You’ve come to the right place,” said former Grand Slam champion Jim Courier when we spoke to him at Roland Garros. Courier, also a Rolex witness, greeted us with a flash of his winning smile and easy charm as we sat down to chat in the Rolex Hospitality Suite, just above the baseline of the tournament’s iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Before heading back to the commentary booth, we chatted with the former Roland Garros favourite about winning, timekeeping and the pursuit of excellence.

In 1991, you were on the Philippe Chatrier court, facing your former roommate Andre Agassi in the final, knowing that your life would change forever if you won and became a Grand Slam winner. What was your state of mind during that famous match?

Coming into Roland Garros, I gave myself a chance to win the tournament. I felt good about myself and my game. What I didn't know was how I would feel in the final stages of a tournament, in a situation I had never been in. And that's the challenge for players who are playing a final for the first time: how do you manage that moment?

It was difficult because I wanted to live a match like any other. But when I stepped on the court, I felt something different because I realized that I was playing a moment that would change my life. There are many good players who reach the final of a major tournament but never win one in their career. I knew that if I won this match, my life would never be the same again. The first set went by very quickly, I was living an out-of-body experience.

But then I managed to pull myself together and find my way to the finish line. But that's one of the most fascinating things about tennis for me: how do people react in new situations? How do they handle the moment? The players who can keep a cool head and control their emotions in critical moments are the ones who lift these trophies. They're the ones who can overcome the moment and be normal in an abnormal moment.

You are still the youngest player to reach the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments. You have then maintained this level for most of your 20-year career. What is the secret to sustained success?

My family instilled in me early on the value of hard work and the desire to give the best of yourself. I didn't start my career with very high expectations. I had dreams, but I didn't expect to accomplish great things. What separates the players who can win these titles from those who are probably just as talented but maybe not capable of it is the ability to feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.

The same goes for high achievers in other areas. You can be in a business meeting and be able to out-smart the person across the table, or play the game the right way, in these high-stakes environments, and be comfortable instead of being overly anxious and nervous, which means you're making a mistake.

How does your career at the top compare to how you've seen Rolex approach the art of watchmaking?

Rolex has always set the bar very high. And it's hard to stay at the top because there are so many people who want to be the best in sports and in business.

But Rolex has a value system in place. They are dedicated to their craft, to the perfection of their watches. There is a timelessness in their pursuit of perfection. While they are not immune to paying attention to new technological trends, Rolex is committed to continuing that legacy of excellence. They are not going to bend too much to trends, they are going to create trends by following the heart and soul of what the company is. That's what I noticed as a witness. There is just this quiet determination to stay on the Rolex path.

If you had to choose one Rolex watch to wear at each Grand Slam that best represents the atmosphere of the tournament, which would it be?

At Wimbledon, I would go for a classic all-gold watch. It would be very classy, ​​very simple. The US Open is quite ostentatious, quite extravagant. I would go for a platinum Daytona with the rubber strap. At Roland Garros, I think we need a rose gold watch with a leather strap. Very classy, ​​the rose gold goes a little bit with the clay court vibe.

Australia is like the US. It's a very modern environment and there's a lot of hustle and bustle. You need something sporty because it's a very sporty nation. I'd go for a black-faced Air King. Yeah, that's fine with me!