Can sponsored players say "no I'm not wearing that ridiculous outfit" ?

ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Well, top guys I'm sure have input and make suggestions with regards to what they want. I can't imagine anyone else has much choice, that's why you get so many people decked out in the same outfits. They're probably so happy to get paid that any pride in what they're wearing goes out the window.
 
A

apjones01

Rookie
I really don't know, but would think that at least the top players aren't just going to wear whatever. That said, ever look back at those Federer outfits from back in the day? Oy...
 
rafazx10

rafazx10

Rookie
They can say whatever they want.
It may be a breach of contract if they refuse to wear the clothing, could cost them a lot of money.
 
Powderwombat

Powderwombat

Semi-Pro
Yea I think you have to be a certain level of player and you can collaborate with the company and get a unique outfit, but most of the sponsored players who aren't at the top just get whatever it is Nike is putting on store shelves that season - they wear it because Nike sells it everywhere and hopes that people see players wearing their Summer gear and will buy it. They also have a few of the special kits like Roger and Rafa might have unique outfits that they also sell, but they can't do it for all players obviously which is why most of them wear the "stock" gear that will be sold retail at a huge markup.
 
Big_Dangerous

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
The question I have, is that if you are not a sponsored player, you can pretty much wear whatever you want as long as it conforms to the ITF/USTA guidelines. With that said, you don't often see a ton of mismatched outfits in tennis, like different brand of shorts, shoes, shirt, etc. Typically the only time you see it is if the apparel brand really doesn't make shoes, like Novak Djokovic with Asics and Lacoste.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Tshooter said:
Hrbaty wears what he’s told.

FEDR wears what he wants.
Click to expand...
Don't hate the playa,
81458489.jpg
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
If I'm not mistaken, Tiafoe was wearing a running/exercise shirt last spring, so I'm guessing they don't have to wear what is given to them, so long as what they do wear is made by their sponsor.

Of course, they may have to pay for it themselves...
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
McLovin said:
If I'm not mistaken, Tiafoe was wearing a running/exercise shirt last spring, so I'm guessing they don't have to wear what is given to them, so long as what they do wear is made by their sponsor.

Of course, they may have to pay for it themselves...
Click to expand...
Thought the same when Jessica Pegula wore the mesh back top in Auckland last week.
 
r2473

r2473

G.O.A.T.
If you’ve seen what Serena wears, she couldn’t possibly have any say. A blind woman wouldn’t willingly wear what she wears
 
Fabresque

Fabresque

Legend
I’m pretty sure the clothing supplier instructs the player on what to wear and that’s that. I don’t know if any players have any choices on what they can wear but Nadal/Federer/Djokovic can probably just wear what they want, they get custom outfits all the time. I’m not sure about the rest of the tour.
 
heftylefty

heftylefty

Hall of Fame
Big_Dangerous said:
The question I have, is that if you are not a sponsored player, you can pretty much wear whatever you want as long as it conforms to the ITF/USTA guidelines. With that said, you don't often see a ton of mismatched outfits in tennis, like different brand of shorts, shoes, shirt, etc. Typically the only time you see it is if the apparel brand really doesn't make shoes, like Novak Djokovic with Asics and Lacoste.
Click to expand...
There were periods that Tommy Haas did have a clothing sponsor, and he wore mixed brand short and tops.
 
Shaolin

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
I've seen an interview with Fed saying that he met with Nike and they went over the outfits a few seasons ahead so yes they have input.

The lower level journeymen type players probably have little or no input.
 
MUFCbmwBear

MUFCbmwBear

Rookie
As the manufacturers release different packs for different tournaments and seasons, the players pick from that particular offering in most cases. DelPotro for instance, in 2018 USOpen he wore a polo from Nike fall range instead of the actual US open release kits. Kyrgios has been wearing plain nike court Heritage polos instead of the usual offering as well. Dimitrov also seems to pick various outlying options.
Both Delpo and Grigor have worn what was supposed to be Federer's Nike kits as well. Grigor wore Fed's Nike AO18 kit and Delpo rocked Fed's Nike RG19 outfit.
 
Last edited:
van_Loederen

van_Loederen

Professional
ibbi said:
They're probably so happy to get paid that any pride in what they're wearing goes out the window.
Click to expand...
most of my pride regarding clothes would go out the window well within the 3 digits range (per month). 8-B only for the most provocant gay/trans rags one would need to pay me some more.
 
Bender

Bender

G.O.A.T.
McLovin said:
rs.php


For some reason, after looking at that shirt, I'm craving a Chik-fil-A sandwich and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream...
Click to expand...
tbh I don't think that looks all that bad. Kinda looks like a giant Jackson Pollock. Could go well if the rest of the kit is simple (which knowing Nike, it won't).
 
K

KINGROGER

G.O.A.T.
Shaolin said:
I've seen an interview with Fed saying that he met with Nike and they went over the outfits a few seasons ahead so yes they have input.

The lower level journeymen type players probably have little or no input.
Click to expand...
Fed had input on some of the horror shows he wore in his last couple of Nike seasons? Yikes.
 
TagUrIt

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
McLovin said:
rs.php


For some reason, after looking at that shirt, I'm craving a Chik-fil-A sandwich and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream...
Click to expand...

I’m definitely in the minority, but I actually like this color way. I’m a Nike fan, but I certainly don’t like everything they put out. This series is fine with me, I’ll most likely buy it when it goes on sale after the AO.
 
Bender

Bender

G.O.A.T.
TagUrIt said:
I’m definitely in the minority, but I actually like this color way. I’m a Nike fan, but I certainly don’t like everything they put out. This series is fine with me, I’ll most likely buy it when it goes on sale after the AO.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I quite like this as well. I imagine it would look good with a pair of plain black shorts and white wristbands.
BeatlesFan said:
Like 2007?

GettyImages-77933550.jpg


2012?

Roger+Federer+2012+Australian+Open+Day+11+JoSf6txFZsMl.jpg


2009?

Cincy-20090821-07-0607.jpg


2015?

Federer-Murray-Cininnati-Semi-Final-2015.jpg
Click to expand...
But then you had this back in the day as well

federer.jpg


Fed must've personally liked that outfit because he returned to that UPS look again

SPORT-PREVIEW-Federer-UPS.jpg
 
Yoneyama

Yoneyama

Hall of Fame
Is anyone else continually perplexed at 90% of Nike/Adidas' kits in the past 5 years or so. Some of them are so bloody DREADFUL I can't imagine they expect to actually sell these clothes.

Sometimes I think they make them as ridiculous and fluro as possible just so people are drawn to the brand.
 
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