In a twist of fate no one saw coming, lives around the world have come to a screeching halt. Tennis tournaments too, have come to a (hopefully brief) pause. As we miss what would been one of the most exciting seasons in the tennis calendar, we can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. Who would’ve emerged as the front-runner during the clay season? Could the King of Clay have bagged a record 13th Roland-Garros win?
Tennis fans are itching to see the 2020 French Open
While we can’t bring you those glorious French Open matches that we were all waiting for just yet, we can offer you a glimpse into what the arena would’ve looked like this time of the year with our favorite pros gracing the courts. You can imagine Rafa in his fierce attire, covering every inch of the court. And you can imagine Serena, in her inventive styles, committed to bagging grand slam number 24. So here’s a rundown of what the tennis greats were all scheduled to wear for the 2020 French Open tournament (and fingers crossed, we’ll witness the magic in September!):
1. Rafa Nadal:
As soon as the Australian Open had wrapped up, the tennis world was gripped with one question: Can Rafa extend his magnificent reign over Philippe-Chartrier, or will a new champion emerge?
To complement Rafa’s bid to build on his near-perfect French Open record, Nike has crafted the Rafa Aeroreact Short Sleeve Top in Polarized Blue with the colorblocked Rafa 7 Inch Short. The color takes us back to Rafa’s 11th French Open title run, but Nike has updated this one with subtle horizontal stripes, which are a nod to Parisian style. He would’ve covered up with the Nike Rafa Court Tennis Jacket in White.
2. Maria Sharapova:
It has been a while since we saw Maria Sharapova at her best on the court, but the Russian never disappoints in the fashion department. She may have retired from the sport, but not before she co-created with Nike her 2020 French Open outfit. The Nike Court Maria Dress is all things glamour, and more! This evening-wear-meets-performance-gear features lots of lace, a fit-and-flare situation, and a satin inset at the waist. It also has the one thing that MaSha loves most in her dresses: chic cutouts!
3. Novak Djokovic:
Nole’s grand slam record of late has been ruthless. Out of the last nine contested majors, Novak Djokovic has won five. Roland-Garros is the only major he hasn’t won since he began that streak. He has been getting bigger and better with each tournament, and all eyes would’ve been on him as he would’ve taken to the clay courts to challenge the King.
Novak was all set to sport this Lacoste outfit. The Djokovic Ultra Dry Exploded Croc Tennis Polo in Red reimagines the iconic crocodile print, while the Novak Semi Fancy Tennis Short in White keeps it simple and classic. The Novak Roland-Garros Tennis Jacket completes the look!
4. Petra Kvitova:
Petra Kvitova may be two slams old, but her tennis displays the nuance and intensity of a thousand years, both in singles and doubles. She had a promising run at the Australian Open, and it would’ve been interesting to see how she would’ve carried forward the momentum and confidence moving into the second grand slam of the year.
For Kvitova, Nike has crafted the Nike Paris Team Court Dress in Royal Pulse, complete with stripes, minimal straps, and an explosion of colors. Sloane Stephens would’ve worn this dress in Laser Crimson instead.
5. Dominic Thiem:
Dominic Thiem has been next-in-line for the title of the King of Clay for a while now. Multiple grueling finals later, he still hasn’t been able to get to that elusive grand slam trophy. We don’t know if that will change when the French Open is contested later this year, but we know he’s going to put up an incredible fight yet again.
He would’ve worn the Adidas Primeblue Freelift Tennis Polo in Black, with the Primeblue Ergo Tennis Short in Amber Tint. The short matches with the clay courts, while the black adds a nice, deep contrast.
6. Garbine Muguruza:
Garbine Muguruza is back onto the grand slam scene with a bang. Her performance at the 2020 Australian Open, where she was the runner up, served to re-establish her dominance on the women’s tennis circuit.
Garbine would’ve played for the second grand slam of the year in the Adidas Primeblue Tennis Dress. The sultry back romper-meets-dress features a separate mesh tee that makes for a one-of-a-kind look for Garbine.
7. Felix Auger-Aliassime:
One of the most promising next-gen players, Felix’s aggressive style and never-give-up attitude has translated into many fearless performances. He has risen up the ATP ranks quickly, and watching him navigate the clay courts would’ve been interesting, at the very least.
Felix was to wear the Nike Men’s Paris Court Slam Tennis Top, with Parisian stripes and a punch of colors, with the Nike Flex Ace 9 Inch Tennis Short in Gridiron.
8. Elina Svitolina:
Svitolina may be a hit or miss on the court, but the one thing we can always count on her to deliver is out-of-the-box fashion. And that’s exactly what she had planned to do this May. From her quirky and whimsical wardrobe, we present the Nike Paris Court Dry Tank, with an eye-catching (that’s what we’re calling it!) graphic. The background clay courts are a clever addition. She is pairing it with the Nike Paris Court Slam Skirt. With stripes, asymmetrical pleats, and layers, this one’s got it all!
Here’s to hoping we see these pros back on the court soon, looking and playing better than ever!
