LONDON (REUTERS) - Roger Federer's career-long association with Nike appeared to be over on Monday (July 2) as the Wimbledon champion walked on to Centre Court to open the defence of his title wearing a Uniqlo branded outfit.
Gone was the Nike swoosh from his bandana and the RF logo that usually appears on his jacket was also missing.
While thousands of fans around Centre Court wore baseball caps displaying the RF logo, Federer can no longer use it as the design is owned by the American apparel and equipment company that had sponsored the Swiss during all of his previous record 20 Grand Slam wins.
Federer, who wore a plain white bandana with two small red squares on the side while defeating Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round, has yet to comment on the switch to the Japanese casual wear designer.
The top seed, however, was wearing Nike footwear as Uniqlo does not manufacture shoes.
Uniqlo issued a statement to confirm it had signed the 36-year-old Swiss as a global brand ambassador.
"Uniqlo, the Japanese global apparel retailer, announces today a partnership with Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player of all time and one of the world's most influential and universally admired people, as its newest Global Brand Ambassador," it said.
"The new partnership means that Mr Federer will represent Uniqlo at all tennis tournaments throughout the year, starting with The Championships, Wimbledon 2018."
While no financial details were revealed, media reported the new deal would be worth around US$30 million (S$41.11 million) a year, compared with the US$10 million a year agreement Federer had with Nike.
During last month's grasscourt event in Halle, Federer confirmed his deal with Nike had expired in March but he kept his arrangement with Uniqlo firmly under wraps until Monday.
On Sunday, he turned up at the traditional champion's pre-tournament news conference at the All England Club in a white shirt, grey blazer and navy trousers instead of the usual tennis whites he had sported in previous years. The only logo on show was the purple Wimbledon members' badge pinned to his lapel.
Uniqlo also sponsors Japan's No.1 men's player Kei Nishikori. Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic had previously been sponsored by the Japanese brand but has now switched to Lacoste.
Nike sponsors Federer's long-time rival Rafael Nadal as well as leading women's players Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
