Most people need no introduction to Rafael Nadal, the
23-year old Spanish sensation that conquered the tennis world last year after
finally dethroning prodigy Roger Federer from the number one spot. Aside from
being at the top of the men’s tennis, there’s another aspect that makes Nadal
stand out: his choice of tennis apparel.
Early on, and up until very recently, “Rafa”, as he is
fondly called by fans and supporters, sported the perfect apparel that can only
be described as ‘rebellious’ to the traditional and mostly conservative tennis
fashion sense. The tight-fitting sleeveless tops challenged the appeal of the
sporty polo. The capris he wore seemed utterly uncomfortable, but complemented
the tops very well. The bandana covering his entire forehead seemed
distracting, but appropriate with his renegade theme.
It’s not like Nadal was the first person to shock the world
when it came to his tennis garb. Women’s tennis always pushed the envelope when
it comes to apparel, such as “Gorgeous” Gussy Moran’s lacey underwear circa
1950 or Maria Sharapova’s Swarovski crystal-studded dress from Nike. But men’s
tennis has always been so customary when it came to clothing, with only a few
exceptions like Andre Agassi’s hot pink getup in the 1990 French Open.
Still, it was Rafael Nadal who came along with his trimmed
muscles, powerful play, and flashy attire and has put a stamp on the sport—and
it’s not just the things he did that has to do with being the world’s top male
tennis player. Last year, Rafa showed up with a fusion of his style and the
pinnacle of classic tennis fashion—at Wimbledon. He was still clad in his
distinctive attire, but the garish colors gave way to the traditional white of
the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
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