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Did Wawrinka and Yonex Alliance Make Tennis History Together?
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Stan Wawrinka’s victory at the Australian Open may have marked the very first time in tennis history that a player has won a major singles title while completely endorsed by one racquet, shoe and apparel company.
Wawrinka wore Yonex shoes, shorts and shirt and also played with a Yonex racquet.
This might be the first time in tennis history, or at least the modern corporate era, that one major champion has been endorsed entirely by the same company.
Think about it: Usually it’s a combination of endorsements – Nadal has Nike and Babolat. Federer has Nike and Wilson. Sampras – ditto. Safin had Head and adidas. Graf had adidas and Wilson. Seles had Fila and Yonex. Muster had Lotto and Fischer. Thomas Johansson had adidas and I believe Prince. It’s always a combination.
So, if anyone can’t find any examples to the contrary to my assertion, big congratulations to Stan Wawrinka and Japan-based company Yonex for making tennis history.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2014 at 8:40 am
I’ve got Yonex shoes and a racquet and I must say they are excellent products.
Doogie · January 30, 2014 at 8:55 am
No article about the Davis Cup tie vs Great Britain??
I am dissapointed 🙂
Pls Scoop or Dan give us one preview. I think this tie could be intresting and close.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2014 at 9:11 am
Doogie, Davis Cup post goes up tomorrow, be patient dear reader be patient 🙂
Dan Markowitz · January 30, 2014 at 11:11 am
Scoop,
I thought you use a Volkl. Switching allegiances? Always liked the Yonnex sticks. Never wore their clothing or shoes. Remember the first Yonnex that hit it big, the R-27? Martina used it. I think Vilas had a wooden Yonnex racket I used for a while, too.
Jerry · January 30, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Thomas Johansson used a Dunlop racquet, and at least at the US Open in 2008 was wearing Dunlop clothing.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Dan I still use Volkl Tour 8 but am open to changing and Yonex is on my radar. Have tested many Yonexes and they all feel very good. Just a matter of finding the exact best one for my style.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Jerry, it’s been brought to my attention that Noah wore and used Le Coq Sportif attire shoes and racquet and Lendl used and wore all adidas though the adidas racquet was a Kneissel. Trying to confirm…
Dan Markowitz · January 30, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Can’t remember a Dunlop shoe that was one the players used.
Scoop, did you see the interesting show Tennis Channel has on about the Challenger circuit players, hosted by Gimel with Tracy Austin and Paul Goldstein, the Crash Davis of the Challenger circuit, having won a record 16 or 18 titles? It was good. Got to see some highlights of Klahn. Geez, Andrew is right. He has a weak bockhand.
Goldie said James Blake traveled with Kudla and said the guy would spend 6 hours a day practicing on court. And then there’s this Nicole Gibbs. Have you seen her, very attractive but diminutive as Clyde Frazier would say and two-time NCAA singles champ at Stanford.
Made mention that Steve Johnson with his 2 NCAA titles is probably the greatest college tennis player ever.
Harold · January 30, 2014 at 9:01 pm
At one point in his career, Lendl was all in Adidas. Raquet, clothes and shoes. Probably had a sawdust deal with Adidas too
john · February 11, 2014 at 10:29 pm
agree with others that lendl used an addidas racquet along with addidas clothes and shoes … also acknowledge that some other manufacturer likely made the addidas racquet.