Top five tennis players who left Nike & joined other apparel brands

Several high-profile names have either ditched Nike or have been dropped due to conflicts.

In recent years, several high-profile tennis players have ended long-standing partnerships with Nike, citing disputes over financial terms, merchandising rights, and creative control.

Sports brands are always looking for opportunities to strike impressive deals with top sports persons and emerging young talents.

Players who perform well in major tournaments such as Grand Slams or Masters are paid better than others for playing a bigger role in brand visibility and promotion. However, better offers from rivals in the field, or silly mistakes that cause serious brand conflicts, have led to major fallouts in the past.

Tennis players who left Nike to join other apparel brands-

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova signed with Nike at the age of 11 and, after achieving global fame, received an eight-year, $70 million contract extension in 2010 with royalties on co-designed apparel.

The partnership hit a crisis in 2016 when she was banned for testing positive for meldonium; Nike suspended the deal but reinstated her after review, supporting her return until her eventual retirement.

Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov signed with Nike in 2010, becoming a prominent face of the brand through exclusive gear, high-profile NikeCourt campaigns, and years of head-to-toe sponsorship.

However, the partnership fell apart after Adidas made a lucrative offer that included apparel and patch-selling rights, benefits that Nike’s contracts typically barred. Disputes arose over whether Nike had truly matched Adidas’ offer under its right-to-match clause, particularly regarding branding freedoms.

After the 2023 French Open, Dimitrov left Nike, debuted in Lacoste apparel while still wearing Nike shoes, and by the 2024 clay season switched to Asics footwear, ending all ties.

Jack Draper

Jack Draper began his career backed by Nike with apparel and shoe deals that showcased him alongside stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, boosting his profile during his rise. By mid-2025, the partnership quietly ended amid contract renewal issues, with Draper seeking greater financial terms and merchandising input—benefits Nike reserves for only a few icons.

As Nike scaled back tennis deals, he switched to Vuori apparel and ASICS footwear, debuting the change at the 2025 US Open.

Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz ended his Nike partnership due to disagreements over financial terms and merchandising rights, with Nike unable to meet his demands for a personalized deal. After rising in the ATP rankings, the American sought more creative control over his apparel and better contract conditions.

He subsequently signed with Hugo Boss, joining a premium fashion brand alongside other top players. This new sponsorship offers Fritz greater input and marks a strategic move to elevate his off-court brand and endorsement opportunities.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer ended his long-term partnership with Nike after contract negotiations fell through, due to differences over finance and merchandising rights. Nike, which had owned the “RF” logo since 2010, offered to expand its line, but could not meet Federer’s financial expectations.

Following the split, Federer signed a 10-year, $300 million guaranteed deal with Uniqlo, debuting their apparel at Wimbledon 2018. The agreement allows him to earn even if he stops playing and includes shirt patch rights, something Nike had not permitted.

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