Federer's contract with Nike ended in March but he is still wearing the brand at this week's Stuttgart OpenGETTY IMAGES
Roger Federer today confirmed that his Nike contract "indeed ended and there are negotiations" ongoing, but he is not "confirming a split from Nike or a change" to Japanese brand Uniqlo, according to tennis reporter René Denfeld (TWITTER.com, 6/11). Federer said, "I don't have a contract with Nike since March. We're talking. We'll see what happens. I'll let you know" (TWITTER.com, 6/11). The DAILY EXPRESS' Mikael McKenzie yesterday reported Federer had split with Nike after his contract "expired," and he had "signed a bumper 10-year deal with Japanese clothes manufacturer Uniqlo" worth $30M a year. Federer is expected to "wear his new sponsor's clothes for Wimbledon next month." Uniqlo sponsored Novak Djokovic until he "swapped to Lacoste last year." Uniqlo now has reportedly "heavily invested in Federer as they try to grow their brand globally." Uniqlo does "not make" tennis shoes, so Federer "will still be able to wear his choice of footwear." Kei Nishikori is also an "ambassador for the company" (EXPRESS.co.uk, 6/10). In London, Joe Miles reported Federer's previous deal with Nike "expired" on March 1. While with Nike, Federer "created the instantly recognisable 'RF' logo." The logo is owned by Nike, and it is "expected that he will be re-branded by Uniqlo." But "despite the speculation" of his new deal, Federer yesterday "arrived to the Stuttgart Open wearing a Nike t-shirt, shorts, [shoes] and a headband" (THESUN.co.uk, 6/10). Tennis writer Carole Bouchard wrote if Federer "really shows up in Uniqlo at Wimbledon, woah." Bouchard wrote she "can't believe" Federer "wanted out from Nike." Or that Nike "couldn’t match any offer nor give Roger whatever he wanted" (TWITTER.com, 6/10).
