Roger Federer’s career-long association with Nike appeared to be over on Monday as the Wimbledon champion walked on to Centre Court to open the defence of his title wearing a Uniqlo branded outfit.
Gone was the Nike swish from his bandana and the RF logo that usually appears on his jacket was also missing.
While thousands of fans around Centre Court wore baseball caps displaying the RF logo, Federer can no longer use it as the design is owned by the American apparel and equipment company that had sponsored the Swiss during all of his previous record 20 Grand Slam wins.
Federer, who was sporting a plain white bandana while playing Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in the first round, has yet to comment on the switch to the Japanese casual wear designer.
The top seed, however, was wearing Nike footwear as Uniqlo do not manufacture shoes.
