Big Apple-Inspired Apparel Unveiled as Federer, Williams, Nadal and
Tennis Great John McEnroe Greet Fans at Manhattan Unveil
BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2009--
As excitement builds for the season ending grand slam, NIKE, Inc.
(NYSE:NKE) today unveiled its US Open apparel and footwear for Roger
Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at a
Nike-built, regulation-sized tennis court in the heart of Manhattan.
At the temporary court, located at 23rd Street and Broadway, tennis fans
and youth from New York Junior Tennis League, Athletes for Charity, New
York City Parks Foundation and Mentoring USA were treated to
inspirational tennis tips and guidance from Federer, Nadal, Williams,
and McEnroe. A youth representative from each organization had a chance
to win a donation for their local group by returning balls from a tennis
simulator set to mimic pro shots. The chance to hit against the
simulator was also open to the public.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring the thrill of the US Open
directly to tennis fans in New York," said tennis icon John McEnroe.
"Providing a platform for kids to experience the beauty and power of
this game and meet their tennis icons is incredible.”
On site, Nike also unveiled the much anticipated apparel and footwear
looks for Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Maria
Sharapova.
“We are very proud to raise the bar for this year’s US Open apparel and
footwear collection by drawing inspiration from New York's style and
energy,” said Janice Lucena, Global Tennis Design Director. “From
Nadal’s taxi cab yellow polo to the sleek sophistication of Maria and
Serena’s night dresses, we continue to create product that helps our
athletes perform better on the court while looking incredible.”
Apparel and Footwear
Roger Federer’s contemporary style is embodied in the details and
craftsmanship of his US Open day and night looks. These looks are
modern, consisting of bold red and black. Federer’s in-game polos are
constructed of knit Nike Dri-FIT fabric in the body and a woven Nike
Dri-FIT collar for comfort and moisture management. The body of the
shirt has an embossed dot pattern inspired by the subway signs of New
York, and the button placket features Roger’s black RF monogram logo,
applied using bonded innovation and laser cut detailing.
As the 2008 US Open defending women’s singles champion, all eyes will be
on Serena Williams as she looks to defend her title. Her day and night
looks were inspired by cocktail party attire, with design call outs
including soft pleating at the neckline, a starburst pin tuck detail at
the back, and a hemline featuring a bold contrast of color. Both the
magenta day dress and black night dress are made of Nike Dri-FIT knit
fabric to wick away moisture and help keep Williams cool on the court.
Rafael Nadal has a contemporary style, and the energy of New York serves
as the design inspiration for his apparel. Rafa is known for wearing
bright colors and will debut a bold yellow and black look, inspired by
the streets of New York City and its’ signature yellow taxi cabs. Also
featuring a multi-row dot print across the chest, the polo is inspired
by the colorful numeric subway signs of New York City. Nike Dri-FIT Mesh
is incorporated in strategic places for breathability to keep Nadal cool.
Maria Sharapova is always closely involved in the design process for her
apparel. Maria will wear two dresses at the Open, the first features a
soft pink Dri-FIT knit body contrasted with electric yellow bonded
seams. The dress features asymmetric lines that crossover to the back
and create a sophisticated take on a traditional athletic racer-back
style. Maria’s US Open warm-up jacket is a lightweight feminine ¾ sleeve
length jacket with a ruffle at the collar and pleating along the waist
and sleeve ends. Maria’s second on-court dress is inspired by the New
York City skyline, and features a dramatic t-back style, keeping Maria’s
shoulders free for the mobility she needs during play.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Imagery and information will be available at www.NikeMedia.com.
About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading
designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear,
apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and
fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan
Holdings Incorporated, which designs, markets and distributes luxury
shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs,
markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories;
Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action
sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro
Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For
more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.
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Source: NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc.
New York Media Relations, 212-367-4447