Novak Djokovic sponsor drag Rafael Nadal into Nike row after …
Novak Djokovic was recently the subject of criticism from former Nike CEO Mike Nakajima.
The main sponsors of Novak Djokovic have hit back at criticism of their star by dragging Rafael Nadal into the row. The Serbian, who drew level with Nadal on 22 Grand Slam wins when he won the Australian Open in January, has enjoyed a deal with luxury clothes brand Lacoste since 2017.
Novak Djokovic sponsor drag Rafael Nadal into Nike row after …
The star had previously been supplied his kit by Adidas, Tacchini and Uniqlo. But his move to the French company was seen as a more direct association with his sport, given it was founded by former tennis star Rene Lacoste, who won seven Slam titles.
READ MORE:Rafael Nadal receives Grand Slam threat as Carlos Alcaraz eyes ..
That’s in contrast to Nadal, who was been sponsored by Nike ever since he broke onto the scene as a teenager. And tensions between the two companies have flared up after former Nike CEO Mike Nakajima took aim at Djokovic.
“He could well be the most successful tennis player ever, but there’s always a dark cloud around him,” Nakajima told CNN. “It’s like he brings it upon himself. He hits the lineswoman at the US Open (in 2020) and gets disqualified? It happens, I guess.”
Not done there, he added: “But why does it always happen to Novak? Or the whole controversy about the Covid vaccination. Now, as a brand: do I want to be behind somebody who always has controversy around him? Or do I want to go with an athlete with a squeaky clean image?”
Novak Djokovic sponsor drag Rafael Nadal into Nike row after …
Novak Djokovic was recently the subject of criticism from former Nike CEO Mike Nakajima.
The main sponsors of Novak Djokovic have hit back at criticism of their star by dragging Rafael Nadal into the row. The Serbian, who drew level with Nadal on 22 Grand Slam wins when he won the Australian Open in January, has enjoyed a deal with luxury clothes brand Lacoste since 2017.
Novak Djokovic sponsor drag Rafael Nadal into Nike row after …
The star had previously been supplied his kit by Adidas, Tacchini and Uniqlo. But his move to the French company was seen as a more direct association with his sport, given it was founded by former tennis star Rene Lacoste, who won seven Slam titles.
READ MORE:Rafael Nadal receives Grand Slam threat as Carlos Alcaraz eyes ..
That’s in contrast to Nadal, who was been sponsored by Nike ever since he broke onto the scene as a teenager. And tensions between the two companies have flared up after former Nike CEO Mike Nakajima took aim at Djokovic.
“He could well be the most successful tennis player ever, but there’s always a dark cloud around him,” Nakajima told CNN. “It’s like he brings it upon himself. He hits the lineswoman at the US Open (in 2020) and gets disqualified? It happens, I guess.”
Not done there, he added: “But why does it always happen to Novak? Or the whole controversy about the Covid vaccination. Now, as a brand: do I want to be behind somebody who always has controversy around him? Or do I want to go with an athlete with a squeaky clean image?”
