The Evolution of Tennis Fashion: Novak Djokovic

The Evolution of Tennis Fashion: Novak Djokovic
The Evolution of Tennis Fashion: Novak Djokovic /

The Evolution of Tennis Fashion: Novak Djokovic

2004

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Ian Walton/Getty Images

Originally clad in Adidas, a skinny 16-year-old Djokovic was swimming in his baggy shirts.

2005

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Clive Mason/Getty Images

Still baggy.

2005

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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Giving the classic polo shirt look a try at the U.S. Open.

2005

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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

If only that were actually a hat.

2006

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Clive Mason/Getty Images

Things were...different in 2006, at the Australian Open.

2006

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CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images

The clothes were different, but the moves were not.

2006

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

For a player who is known now for snug-fitting attire, it's easy to forget how billowy it once was, at the French Open.

2006

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CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images

Before his much ballyhooed switch to Head in 2009, Djokovic was a Wilson guy.

2006

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JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP/Getty Images

Always the crowd-pleaser, Djokovic threw on a French soccer jersey after winning the title in Metz.

2007

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Doug Benc/Getty Images

Djokovic wins his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami.

2007

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Clive Mason/Getty Images

When in Monte Carlo, do as the Monte Carlo-ites do.

2007

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Robert Laberge/Getty Images

At least his off-court attire was interesting.

2007

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Adidas finally puts Djokovic in something memorable and he has one of the most impressive runs to the title ever, beating the top three seeds in Andy Roddick, Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer to win Montreal.

2007

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

A few weeks later he was into his first Slam final at the U.S. Open, where he lost to Roger Federer.

2007

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STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

He got his whole box decked out in his kit too. Well, almost his whole box. Hi Maria!

2007

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ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

Nole nearly went shirtless at Davis Cup.

2008

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Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

This is the season Djokovic's on-court fashion took flight, beginning in Melbourne at the Australian Open.

2008

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Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Djokovic wins his first Australian Open title in blue and black.

2008

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Clive Rose/Getty Images

It helps when you know your family is behind you.

2008

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Djokovic goes grey to win his first Indian Wells title.

2008

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The monochrome continued through the French Open.

2008

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Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

It wouldn't past muster under Wimbledon's current dress-code, but the baby blue was cool.

2008

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Given when his future sponsors would do with his patriotic kits, it's a shame adidas decked him out in boring black and white for the Beijing Olympics.

2008

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Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Djokovic wasn't the only Adidas player who had to wear this terrible kit at the U.S. Open. Which is unfortunate for everyone.

2008

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Thankfully, it came in other colorways.

2008

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China Photos/Getty Images

Adidas actually made him a special kit for the World Tour Finals. It was the beginning of many.

2008

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Enter the falcon, Adidas attempt to give Djokovic his own "RF" logo.

2009

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Djokovic switches from Wilson to Head. And all hell breaks loose.

2009

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Djokovic's blue kicks were an all-time favorite...

2009

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...The shorts almost falling off? Not so much. Davis Cup will do this to you.

2009

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Primary colors have always worked best on Novak, particularly the ones from Serbia's flag.

2009

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

It looked particularly good against the red clay.

2009

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

Occasionally these darn things wouldn't stay on.

2009

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

Back to orange at the U.S. Open.

2009

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

Djokovic marches into Basel, Switzerland in all black and walks away with the trophy in Federer's home town.

2009

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

The last Adidas kit Djokovic would wear.

2010

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Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

Nole matched the courts in Melbourne and added all-white wristbands.

2010

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The ombre, white-to-gray look, mismatched wristbands and white hat looked off on Djokovic.

2010

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The Serb looked good in red on the clay in the Davis Cup.

2010

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The shiny, golden yellow shirt and black shorts were too much for Rome.

2010

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Winged designs on the front and back of the polo at Roland Garros? No.

2010

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Adidas redeemed itself with Novak's all-white Wimbledon look.

2010

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But the fire-red dragon on the black polo was not a sharp look for the U.S. Open.

2010

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Djokovic brought his game and a decent kit to the China Open.

2010

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Novak celebrates a victory for Serbia in the Davis Cup final.

2011

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He debuted the year with an all-black uniform with a pop of orange.

2011

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But we liked the alternate white and blue kit with red accents better.

2011

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Djokovic paid a tribute to Japan on his socks at Indian Wells.

2011

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And the red, white and blue attire won him an Indian Wells title.

2011

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Patrick Farrell/Miami Herald/MCT via Getty Images

The victories kept coming for Novak in a similar uniform at the Sony Open.

2011

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And then he took it off.

2011

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The black and orange kit reappears in Madrid.

2011

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The rainbow pattern on the front and back of Novak's polo and shorts was too much for Roland Garros.

2011

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And the white version didn't look much better.

2011

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How can you go wrong with an all-white kit and a title at the All England Club?

2011

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Novak channels his inner Maria Sharapova, as the two unveil Head's latest collection in New York. Don't ever go blonde, Nole.

2011

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Simon Bruty/SI

Nole had a customized kit for the U.S. Open.

2012

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Ringing in the new year with busy, unflattering designs.

2012

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And bubbles? Only in Miami.

2012

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

Djokovic went for a rare striped top and bottom in Rome.

2012

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One of Uniqlo's first kits on Novak was spectacular -- clean, crisp navy with red accents.

2012

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

Uniqlo takes a try at the white Wimbledon dress code.

2012

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DON EMMERT/AFP/GettyImages

The brand hit the mark in this sharp all-blue uniform trimmed with red.

2013

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Uniqlo's first fail: Pinstripes.

2013

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The slate gray number at Indian Wells was nice, but the silver shoes were not.

2013

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It was a nice try.

2013

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All white from head to toe, including the cap. We dig it.

2013

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Feng Li/Getty Images

Novak can't go wrong with red and black in China.

2014

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Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Uniqlo unveils a new two-toned top for the Australian Open.

2014

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

And the patterned continued into Monte Carlo.

2014

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Julian Finney/Getty Images

His play wasn't sharp at this year's U.S. Open, but the uniform was.

2014

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ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Once again in red in Beijing and another strike in the win column for Djokovic.


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