Quick Hits: Iga's kit fix, Osaka's film, and some Nike scoop
Some loose notes for your weekend after the best week in Hard Court history.
It’s Friday and I have a bunch of loose notes I want to get out to you that aren’t worthy of a full piece. First of all, what a week—Hard Court gained 400 new subs almost overnight, with our biggest surge in paid subs ever. A little someone named Coco Gauff shared our latest piece. I’m so grateful for all of your support and it has me more motivated than ever to make this newsletter the best place to read about the business and style of tennis.
I was flooded this week with emails and phone calls about some really cool opportunities for Roland Garros and Wimbledon and I’m excited to take you along for the ride. Until then, let’s get into what’s been left on the table…
On learns its lesson with Iga’s Roland Garros kit
At the Australian Open earlier this year, fans and commentators were struck by Iga Swiatek ripping the sides of her On skirt apart because it was limiting her movement. That, my friends, is a brand’s worst nightmare and it was reflective of a larger trend in the tennis apparel space of increasingly shoddy kit design. If you’re interested in what’s driving that unfortunate phenomenon, and why tennis is particularly hard to design for, dive in here.
But On is attempting to right its wrongs with Swiatek’s Roland Garros kit, which they debuted online yesterday. The purple and white ‘disrupted stripes’ graphic tank will be paired with either a matching white or purple skirt, depending on Swiatek’s preference that day. A spokesperson for On tells me that the fit and function were “developed in close collaboration with Swiatek to ensure that she can play unrestricted.” That means side slits at the hem (no tearing this time) and a more precise cut of the sleeveless tank to ensure it doesn’t distract her during play.
I loved the On top that Swiatek wore in this Instagram video by the WTA, so it’s nice to see that color carried over into this kit. But I still feel like the boxy fit has gotten tired. Swiatek doesn’t strike me as someone who wants to wear super form fitting clothing, and I completely respect that, but there’s got to be a way to give these looks some shape without veering into sexy territory. Regardless, I’ll be interested to see how the kit holds up at the French.
Naomi Osaka is debuting a short film on May 12th
There was a lot of overblown concern surrounding Naomi Osaka’s Met Gala attendance this week, with many wondering how she’d possibly be fit to play Rome with a quick trip to New York squeezed in. The fact of the matter is that Osaka had already gotten reps in in the Eternal City and spent a little over 24 hours in Gotham, more than enough time to be ready for her match against Eva Lys today.
I was pleased to see that her creative team filmed the whole endeavor, teasing a short film that juxtaposes the peak of high-fashion moments with her rigorous tennis training. Envisioned by her creative director Marty Harper and shot and directed by Adam Kudeimati, the film “explores the intersection of elite athleticism, artistry, and personal authorship,” her team shared with me. “A core part of the narrative is grounding the glamour of the Met Gala within the seriousness and discipline of Naomi’s training life. Her commitment to performance, recovery, routine, and mental focus remains constant throughout, creating a compelling tension and balance between two demanding worlds,” Harper wrote in an outline for the film. It premieres May 12th and is not being produced by Hana Kuma, Osaka’s production company which I’m told is on hold.
One thing I wanted to point out: I cover Osaka a lot because she’s always doing something interesting and pushing against many people’s perception of what an athlete “should” be. In the words of Chazz Michael Michaels, she “gets the people going.” I don’t have hidden Naomi Osaka posters in my room—I’m a journalist, not a stan. If any other tennis player was pushing these boundaries and making waves like this, I’d be yapping a lot about them too. But unfortunately for tennis’s place in the culture, they’re not.
A little Nike scoop to ease the pain
A lot happened in Nike tennis land this week. There was outrage over the half-baked Sinner merch being sold in Rome but then, finally, some praise over the brand’s new Tennis Classic shoe campaign and Sabalenka’s Roland-Garros kit reveal that felt a touch more creative.
In the process I picked up some interesting Nike scoop for you. There are plans to bring Sinner’s merch (the logo of which was designed by an independent agency, not Nike) to more markets and they’re tracking for the end of the year. I can only wish, hope, and pray that the designs will be a little more interesting than what we’ve seen so far.
And for those of you who have been begging the tours to sell player merch (it’s not that easy—here’s why), I have some good, exclusive news for you if you’re an Alcaraz, Sinner, Sabalenka, or Qinwen fan: Nike has some genuinely cool t-shirts in the works for them that blow those Rome tees out of the water. The downside? You’ll have to wait until 2027 to see them.
Thanks for reading! If you have tennis news or tips to share, email jessica@hard-court.com. For regular updates, follow Hard Court on Instagram.
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2027 for the Nike tees 🙃
Osaka is approaching peak Chrissie Evert levels of cultural cache.