In association with the “Rendez-vous à Roland-Garros” event, for which Longines is the Title Partner, the Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT) and the Swiss watchmaker are delighted to honour Japanese player Ayano Shimizu (JPN) and Brazilian player Rafael Wagner (BRA), the big winners of the competition, which this year added two countries to its list of participants. The two talented young players, who vanquished their opponents in their respective final matches on May 21, 2016, received their Wild Cards for the French Open Junior tournament today, on the Philippe Chatrier Court. 

The awards ceremony for the “Rendez-vous à Roland-Garros”, for which Longines has been the Title Partner since 2015, was held on Thursday May 26 on the Philippe Chatrier Court. Ayano Shimizu (JPN) and Rafael Wagner (BRA) were triumphant in their final matches, which took place on Saturday May 21 on court No. 6 at Roland-Garros. Jean Gachassin, President of the FFT, and Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing for Longines, were given the honour of awarding the Wild Cards to the two young athletes, allowing them to live their dreams of taking part in the French Open Junior Tournament at Roland-Garros. They were also each presented with a stylish Longines watch on the balcony of the Presidential Tribune. 

This year, Japan and South Korea joined China, Brazil and India as participating countries in the competition, bringing the total number of countries to five. The “Rendez-vous à Roland-Garros” event, in partnership with Longines, brings together the best junior tennis players in the boys and girls categories at the national level, who face off against each other during February and April for the privilege of taking part in the Junior tournament at Roland-Garros. 2015 winner Gabriel Decamps from Brazil, who is currently 34^th in the World Junior Rankings, will be participating in this year’s French Open Junior Tournament.

Longines takes a special interest in the youth of today, who represent tomorrow’s future. In light of this, it is only natural that the watchmaker supports and organizes competitions that are intended to promote sporting activities among young people, along with the values of fair play, respect, integrity and enjoyment, which Longines holds dear. In connection with Roland-Garros, at which Longines has been Official Partner and Timekeeper since 2007, the watchmaker is also bringing together the best under-13 tennis players from 16 countries for the seventh consecutive year, in the Longines Future Tennis Aces program. The brand with the winged hourglass emblem is also committed to supporting young athletes in other sporting disciplines, notably through the Prix Longines Future Racing Stars in horse racing and the Longines Future Ski Champions program in alpine skiing, among others. 

Final results of « Rendez-vous à Roland-Garros » in partnership with Longines  

Boys: Rafael Wagner (BRA) d. Minseob Lim (KOR): 6-2, 6-0
Girls: Ayano Shimizu (JPN) d. Himari Sato (JPN): 6-4, 6-2