“We know I’m at the back end of my career, not at the beginning,” began tennis legend Roger Federer during the press conference held at the Park Hyatt, where he answered questions about his $300 million, 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, who topped Forbes's Highest-Paid Tennis Players of 2018 list, left Nike after some two dozen years, and he approached Uniqlo about working together. The Japanese label, which produces technologically advanced collections like the breathable, sweat-wicking Airism line, and the warm Heattech pieces, will join Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori at Uniqlo, and he’ll even play a role in the design process. Tonight Federer will battle Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka on the U.S. Open court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Federer discussed everything from what it was like to design for Uniqlo, how he felt the first time playing tennis in Uniqlo, and why he plans to make tennis more diverse.
On how he felt after he got comfortable the first time he wore Uniqlo on the court:
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.
What he looks for in the perfect tennis uniform:
There’s certain colors I don’t like to wear. You don’t see me in yellow. There’s certain materials that don’t work well with the sweat, or they stick on your body. When you start thinking about your outfit at all times during a match, because you’re struggling with that stuff, it’s never fun. The good thing is when it flows, especially when you’re playing outdoors. The good thing is when you feel it’s almost drying by itself, or if you’re sweating and there’s a cooling sensation, 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.
On making professional tennis more diverse:
The tour doesn’t always go through Asia, I’ve been a big promoter of Shanghai, same as Tokyo, I’ve wanted to go back there many times, and through this deal, I will. I’m very excited to spend more time in China, Japan and other places, so I think that’s very exciting, and maybe I can also find more tennis superstars of the future because they just don’t have enough unfortunately. A lot of them are from Europe, Australia, America, South America.
On why he’s designing for Uniqlo:
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, is something I’m very excited. And I’m also going beyond that into lifewear.
On what he considers important during the design process:
All the fabrics and colors for me, it starts with that. And then I think the type of fit that comes naturally the question now is, do we keep it fitted, the way we have been wearing, my tennis outfit, because when I started, it was pretty baggy back in the ‘90s still, things were different, and now it’s. So now the question, should we change up that silhouette, because Christophe Lemaire gave some thought, the silhouette, how we could change that. We’re not there yet, there’s a discussion there, but I think the fabrics are very important, I like a lot the colors we choose, and the detail, because I think there’s so much we can do.
On Japanese tennis pro and fellow Uniqlo ambassador Kei Nishikori’s reaction to Federer joining Uniqlo:
Apparently I was his idol growing up, so when I saw him as a 16, 17-year-old back in Miami, it was amazing to see such a strong Japanese tennis player, so now he couldn’t believe it when he heard the rumors, actually, it was true, that I was joining Uniqlo. He was like, ‘Is this real? Is this possible?’ Now I have a bigger connection and I think we’re both very excited to be on the same team.
