In 2018 Roger Federer, basking in the late day glow of a superlative career, made the surprise decision to end his contract with Nike after more than 20 years. For as long as fans had watched the Swiss grow from capricious upstart to the cardigan-wearing GOAT of men's tennis, he'd had a swoosh emblazoned on his chest, and shorts, and shoes... and headband. But $300 million from Uniqlo was, well, $300 million from Uniqlo.
But as it turns out, Federer and the Japanese mega retailer have done more than just watch while the cash rolls in. Instead they've quietly been designing some of the smartest outfits in tennis, with a signature new look for the Swiss legend that capitalises on the m0st-enduring spring trend of the last couple of years: the spread collar shirt.
Federer first debuted his new open-collar vibe at the Australian Open in January, but it was last week in Miami - which saw the 37-year-old capture his 101st (One Hundred and First!) title against John Isner on the sun-baked courts of South Florida - when were really shown the full extent of Roger's new minty menswear vision. It was a get-up that would work just as well for a long afternoon of poolside Piña Coladas as did for taking home the trophy at a packed-out Hard Rock Stadium.
The spread collar shirt has been something of a 'thing' for a few seasons now in the wider world of menswear, but this is the first we're seeing of it in the arena of elite sports. The introduction of the gentle pastel palette keeps it both up-to-date for 2019 and spring-appropriate. Sure, we were hoping for a full floral set-up, but mint green is more-than- sharp-enough for a style-resistant circuit which sees the majority of professional players dressed identically, or as permitted by their sponsors.
Speaking to Forbes about his move to Uniqlo last year, Federer said, "I stand for style on the court. I really wanted to make the best apparel, the best looking apparel for a tennis player in recent years, obviously I want to redo that, create the coolest things with Uniqlo. It's something I’m very excited about. And I’m also going beyond that into lifewear."
Just don't expect to Federer in pineapple, mustard lemon or canary any time soon/ "There are certain colours I don’t like to wear," he said in the same interview. "You don’t see me in yellow."
Take a look at some of the best off-court spread collar shirts in the gallery below.
