Even before the Australian Open had begun, it was shrouded in controversy. For months the main debate was whether world number 1 Novak Djokovic would actually play in the tournament. At this stage, Djokovic was a poster boy for anti-vaccination and Australia has very stringent rules. No more so than in Victoria because the state has incurred more lockdowns than anywhere else in the world. Surprisingly, the sports superstar was allowed entry into the country only to be deported soon afterwards. Now that the 9-times champion was out of the competition the gate was open for Rafael Nadal to make history. Even better (for Richard Mille) he was wearing their phenomenal RM 35-03 Automatic.
Subsequently, Novak Djokovic has done a complete backflip on his views on vaccinations. Certainly, he was the favourite to win the tournament and win an unrivalled 21st grand slam. Instead, he had to watch his rival Rafael Nadal beat him to the punch. I watched the final and it was really on the racquet Danil Medvedev who rightly should have won the match. He had so many opportunities including 3 breakpoints at 3-2 in the third set. This game turned out to be crucial to the overall outcome of the match. Maybe the RM 35-03 from Richard Mille worked like a lucky charm for Rafa.
Richard Mille’s and Rafael Nadal has got to be one of the most successful commercial watch partnerships in history. Nowadays sports stars are plastered head to toe with brand logos. However, in tennis, not many players actually wear the watch on the court. The RM 35-03 is the latest Rafael Nadal edition and has the brand’s DNA stamped all over it. In my opinion, it’s not quite as impressive as the RM 27-01, RM 27-03 or RM 27-04 models. However, it is still is a well-designed watch that appeals to appreciators of modern watch design. It is also pertinent to mention at $220,000 this is one of the brands more affordable models.
The RM 35-03 is available in blue and white Carbon TPT and Quartz TPT versions depending on your preference. Dimensionally the watch has a well-proportioned tonneau case measuring 43.15 mm x 49.95 mm. Beneath the refined façade is a sophisticated self-winding movement with an adjustable “Butterfly” rotor. The Calibre RMAL2 comprises 38-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Functionally the RM 35-03 features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch also has a power reserve of 55-hours and is water-resistant to a depth of 50-metres.
