ATP Apparel for 2011 Australian Open - Part I: Sneak Preview for Roger Federer
With the new season coming up and the 2011 Australian Open weeks away, Nike Tennis has been working hard to develop the perfect looks for its sponsored players. The three players whom Nike has based their outfits on for this time round are Rafael Nadal,
Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro. While these outfits are currently only available for the players on the ATP tour, they will soon be on sale for the general public.
Roger Federer
In a few weeks, Roger “the Swiss Maestro” Federer will be returning to the same courts on which he won his 16th and latest Grand Slam title in the year 2010. After the Down Under victory, Federer faced a bad patch which lasted a few months all
the way into Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Czech tennis pro Tomas Berdych.
Ironically, it seems as if that defeat is the one which kicked Federer back into action and encouraged him to get his game back on track. He began training as hard as possible with coach and former player Paul Annacone, and managed to get back in form just
in time for the Barclays Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour Finals.
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals were a throwback to the years in which Roger Federer played his best tennis; he revisited the past by knocking out World Number 1 Rafael Nadal in three sets to take away his fifth championship at the end of year tournament
in London. However, a rematch between the two players at the Aussie Open is definitely a possibility, and fans are looking forward to see how Nadal exacts revenge on his long time rival for his defeat at the season-ending event.
In addition to the distinctive qualities of their games, both players also possess distinguishing features in their apparel. The current holder of Australian Open title has collaborated with Nike to provide a streamlined style for his outfit; at the same
time, he honours his usual sense of elegance with the “Trophy Polo Shirt”, an upper garment which is white with hints of yellow, along with woven shorts.
Federer has a reputation of dressing down and favouring comfort over fashion where his sports garments are concerned. He seems to be following this rule of thumb with the “Trophy Polo Shirt”; the player has done away with both buttons on the placket, which
cause skin chafing, and stitching on the back of the shirt. This is another step towards the tailored, slim fit which Federer switched over to some years back.
Nike, keeping this in mind, have taken his stylistic aspirations one step further this time. Janice Lucena of Nike Tennis says, “Traditionally, Roger has had the longer-length placket, but this season we took the buttons off and created a bit more fun and
a younger silhouette.”
Another touch exclusive to Roger Federer is that the placket still has the distinctive “RF” logo monogrammed on the back in yellow, to complement the general colour scheme of the outfit. The back of the shirt features a “Swiss cross perforated pattern”,
paying homage to Federer’s homeland. Lastly, the outfit also celebrates the stage on which the first Grand Slam will take place; the yellow and gray-green colour combination on the shorts is a nod to the national colours of Australia.
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