Besides baseball and basketball, which are nearly considered national sports, tennis also commands huge viewership worldwide. Swiss watchmaker RADO has been the official timekeeper of the Swiss Open in Gstaad since 1985. Recently, RADO unveiled the Captain Cook X Tennis Limited Edition set, embodying resilience and vibrant lifestyle alongside the passage of time.
RADO’s partnership with tennis began at the 1985 Swiss Open. From 1989 to 1991, the brand ambitiously expanded its sponsorship to 33 tournaments worldwide, including the 1993 French Open. With renowned tennis stars such as Britain’s Andy Murray and Australia’s Ash Barty becoming brand ambassadors, RADO further established itself as the official timekeeper for events like the Washington Open, Swiss Indoors Basel, and Vienna Open. The brand also launched the YoungStars initiative, supporting emerging talents like Cameron Norrie, Linda Nosková, and J.J. Wolf — all representing the future of tennis.
The newly launched Captain Cook X Tennis Limited Edition celebrates RADO’s 40-year enduring connection with tennis. Based on the highly acclaimed Captain Cook model, the watch features a stainless steel case and a distinctive gradient dial transitioning from metallic ruthenium to white. The hour markers at 3, 6, and 8 o’clock are coated with bright yellow Super-LumiNova®, corresponding to the 15, 30, and 40-minute marks on the minute track — a nod to tennis scoring increments.
The watch offers 300 meters of water resistance and RADO’s proprietary quick-release system. Along with the stainless steel bracelet, it comes with three NATO straps in green, orange, and blue, stored in a leather pouch. These colors pay tribute respectively to Wimbledon’s grass courts, the French Open’s clay courts, and classic hard courts. Powered by the R763 automatic movement, the watch boasts an 80-hour power reserve. Its Nivachron™ balance spring provides robust resistance against magnetic interference encountered in daily life. This limited edition set is a testament to RADO’s timeless bond with tennis.
