In 1989, the year Sabine Lisicki was born, I was still playing relatively high-level tennis in the German club system. Back then, I played for Rot-Weiss Hangelar, located about ten kilometers away from Rot-Weiss Troisdorf, the club at which Lisicki would begin her dramatic tennis career. While I played many matches on the courts she learned on, there was no chance I could ever have met Lisicki…until last year’s Roland Garros French Open. Courtesy of Longines, I had the opportunity to attend festivities surrounding (which runs during the French Open) and witness Stefanie Graf receive the Longines Prize for Elegance, which included a check for her charity, , which works with children traumatized through war, violence and abuse.
Sabine Lisicki, 15 at this time last year and 24 right now, was on hand during all of these proceedings as a Longines Rising Tennis Star. During a day of press conferences, show matches with the finalists of the Longines’ Future Tennis Aces and, of course, the gala evening, Lisicki visibly enjoyed the proximity to Graf and the celebratory surroundings. This couldn’t be more fitting in retrospect, as Lisicki has now done something that no German woman has done since Graf: she has reached the final of Wimbledon, doubtlessly tennis’ most hallowed tournament. Graf, ever the gentlewoman, before her semifinal match to spur her on.
Like Graf, her timekeeping has been powered by an elegant Longines timepiece since 2011. It may prove to be her lucky charm in a career riddled with Grand Slam injuries after breaking through in 2009; Lisicki has literally been slaying giants on her road to the finals in her fourth-ever Wimbledon showing including champion Kaia Kanepi, last year’s Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, and defending champion .
The finals won’t be a walk in the park, though, as tennis commentator and timepiece journalist notes. “Marion Bartoli [currently ranked 15 in the world] has the favor of James Bond.” He relates an intriguing behind-the-scenes story. “Bartoli was just about to lose against Justine Henin in the 2007 Wimbledon semifinals when she spotted Pierce Brosnan, her favorite actor, in the audience. She didn’t want to ‘look bad’ and managed to turn the match in her favor. Brosnan had to get to a wedding on the day of that year’s finals, but, having heard Bartoli’s story, sent flowers. Recently the two met on a plane, drank champagne together, and set a date for Wimbledon’s final day 2013…”
Tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm sharp Greenwich time, I’m sure that Graf, Longines’ staff, the regulars at both Rot-Weiss Troisdorf and Rot-Weiss Hangelar, and I will all be sitting in front of the television to watch Lisicki play Bartoli in the finals: a showdown of sorts between Omega (James Bond’s watch choice) and Longines (Lisicki’s watch choice). Serve’s up!
UPDATE: Unfortunately, Pierce Brosnan could not be at Wimbledon today due to a family emergency. However, chances are that Bartoli felt he was watching anyway…she ended up the decided victor with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Congratulations to both on a stellar tournament!
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