Back in 2018, Swiss maestro Roger Federer decided to switch sports manufacturing brand Nike in a bid to sign a new contract with Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo
Roger Federer is a former World No.1 and one of the all-time greats of tennis with record 20 Grand Slams to his name.
Federer, 36 at that time, signed a US $300million worth 10-year contract with Japanese mass-market retailer Uniqlo, which is known for its well-designed basics, designer collaborations, and high-tech Lifewear line.
Federer’s decision came as a big surprise to many of his fans and followers, who over the time have got used to seeing the living legend of the gameplay in his Nike apparels with whom he has an association of over 20 years. Nike are one of the biggest sports companies in the world and reports suggest that Federer’s deal was worth $10million per year.
However, there seem to be a few reasons as to why Federer decided to leave Nike for newcomers Uniqlo.
Why Federer switched from Nike to Uniqlo?
According to an ESPN report, Federer was looking to negotiate with Nike for more money before signing his deal with Uniqlo.
However, things did not turn up as expected, with the Swiss tennis great eventually cutting off his two-decade tie-up with Nike. The report also states that the ten-year deal includes an unprecedented clause that will allow Federer to collect his payment even if he doesn’t play until the end of his deal.
This surely was an unheard move in the sport of tennis and could have been one of the reasons for the Swiss international to prefer a switch, especially at this stage of career. Also, Federer had a few sporting reasons as to why he liked Uniqlo and preferred to chose them over Nike.
“I feel good in my clothes, I can focus on tennis, and it fits. I like it, and I get a lot of compliments on it, so I’m very happy,” Federer had said.
“I like good socks. Uniqlo has great socks, so I think that’s important. You need to have a really good stability in your shoes, and it starts with your socks, and other than that, I like if you look good, you feel good, you play good. I believe in that,” he opined.
While Federer sporting Uniqlo gear is a big boost for the Japanese company, the Swiss ace wears sneakers from another company. However, it doesn’t seem to be one of the major players with both Nike and Adidas missing out.
Federer has been featuring on the courts wearing On shoes. On is a Swiss-based sports company and the ace is actually a shareholder in the company. The company also released a special limited edition shoe called “The Roger” in 2020.
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