Tennis has long been a platform for brand partnerships, especially since Rolex’s sponsorship of Grand Slams in the late 1970s and Andre Agassi’s collaboration with Ebel in the 1980s. Hublot, a relatively unknown brand outside of watch enthusiasts, partnered with Novak Djokovic three years ago. Earlier this week, the brand created a limited edition Big Bang Unico watch, marking their first joint project. The launch event, held at the historic Hôtel d’Évreux in Paris, was attended by journalists and guests from around the world. The details of the product has blown Djokovic’s mind!
This 42mm timepiece features a unique case and bezel made from recycled materials, including Djokovic’s Head racquets and Lacoste polos from his record-breaking 2023 season. The watch incorporates subtle tennis-themed details, such as tennis ball-shaped screws, a yellow second pusher, and Djokovic’s logo on the seconds hand and oscillating weight. This limited edition timepiece celebrates Djokovic’s achievements and Hublot’s commitment to sustainable innovation. Mind you, the watch is priced $52,400.
Taking to his official TikTok handle, Djokovic showed off his watch from the £90 billion($113 Billion, as of 2023, brand). Djokovic could be heard saying, “Okay, what do we got here? Oooooh, this is nice. Look at that, wow” “It’s been a very long time that I’ve been waiting for this watch to arrive. Wonderful. So good. And knowing the story behind it and that it’s made out of recycled clothes and tennis racket materials that I play with. It’s phenomenal. And it’s so light I can’t wait to put it on. Eternally grateful to Hublot for accepting to do this project with me and making my own watch. Yes(smiles)”
During an interview once, Djokovic revealed why he boasts some of the unique watches in the world and why he is fond of them. He went on to say, “To me, that is the true beauty of having a master timepiece on your wrist — when the time softly nudges you and doesn’t burden you by its weight.”
For Djovokic, he’s game to see how the partnership can evolve, but is also wary of Julien Tornare’s(Hublot’s new CEO) reputation on the tennis court. “Julien and I are yet to cross tennis paths but I’ve heard I will have quite a challenge in him,” he jokes.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will hope to overcome his injury setbacks and get back fit in time for the next season. He has already revealed his plans for the 2025 season.
Novak Djokovic to go full throttle next season
Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season was a mixed bag of highs and lows. While he didn’t win any Grand Slam titles, he achieved a historic milestone by winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris, becoming the oldest Olympic champion in men’s singles history. This victory also made him the first player to complete a Career Golden Slam. However, his Grand Slam performances were underwhelming, with early exits in several tournaments. At 37, Djokovic is refusing to slow down.
Despite suffering an injury to his knee, the Serb believes he can come back stronger next season. As a result, he wants to play in as many tournaments as he can in 2025. “Tennis is still my focus. I am going at full throttle in the off-season, we go for another ride. I just needed to recharge and refresh a bit after an exhausting year. I am going to play in the first week of the season, I am just not sure yet where. Then, of course, Australian Open,” Novak Djokovic told Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo in early November.
