Players opting for new sponsors from time to time is not very uncommon in tennis. Back in 2018, Roger Federer sent shockwaves after he ended his long-time partnership with Nike and joined Uniqlo. Despite being toward the fag end of his career, the Swiss maestro was one of the most-followed athletes and it had a significant effect on the two brands. Further, Taylor Fritz was another player who left Nike earlier this year and signed up for Hugo Boss. And now, another WTA star has made a big move off the court.
Kalinskaya has been in the news this year, not just because of her performances on the tour, but also because of her relationship with Jannik Sinner. The latter is having the best season of his career, alongside his adorable bonding with his girlfriend, Kalinskaya. The two traveled to Beijing where they will be seen in action at the China Open. Earlier today, the Russian star opened her campaign against Hailey Baptiste and prevailed in a tough encounter. While her performance did catch the eyes of the tennis world, Kalinskaya was also spotted wearing a Nike outfit.
Kalinskaya has donned the outfits of brands like Wilson, Alo, and Adidas in the past. However, during the practice session in Beijing, she put on a Nike outfit, leading to rumors about whether she got a new sponsor. And as she wore the Nike outfit again during her first match in the tournament, it seems confirmed now that she has indeed signed up for the brand. Evolve, Naomi Osaka’s talent agency which reportedly manages Kalinskaya, also posted pictures of the Russian WTA star in her Nike outfit. The caption read, “Newest member of the Swoosh team @annakalinskaya78 @nike.”
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Poll 1 of 6
What do you think of Anna Kalinskaya’s new Nike outfit at the China Open?
Stylish
Underwhelming
Game-changing
Not my style
Do you think Roger Federer’s Laver Cup is a valuable addition to the tennis calendar?
Absolutely
Not at all
Only for entertainment
Depends on the players participating
Whats your Perspective on:
Anna Kalinskaya’s new Nike look—Is she the next big fashion icon in tennis?
Have an interesting take?
Who do you think had the worst luck in the China Open clash?
Matteo Berrettini
Naomi Osaka
Yulia Putintseva
Do you think Coco Gauff’s split with Brad Gilbert was the right move?
Absolutely
No way
Too soon to tell
Depends on her next coach
Do you agree with Jannik Sinner and Roger Federer’s ex-coach on ATP’s scheduling issues?
Absolutely
Somewhat
Not at all
I don’t care
Interestingly, Kalinskaya’s boyfriend, Jannik Sinner is also sponsored by Nike. He signed a mega-deal with the brand worth $150 million spanning 10 years. However, neither Kalinskaya nor Sinner has made any statement yet regarding the Russian’s move to Nike. Sinner anyway likes to keep things private. He even keeps his relationship with Kalinskaya very private and hardly speaks anything about it publicly.
Jannik Sinner on his relationship with Anna Kalinskaya: ‘Don’t like to talk much about my private life’
In the modern world where people boast about their relationship status on social media, Jannik Sinner is a strong exception. The Italian star doesn’t spill out many details about his relationship with Kalinskaya and vows to maintain privacy. After his maiden Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open, he confirmed his relationship with Kalinskaya, albeit with a few details.
Sinner said, “I like to talk about tennis and about sports in general, but when it comes to private life, I want to keep it that way. I want to protect the people who are close to me, keeping them out of my public life. I love it as a task to be done, almost a duty: they helped me, when I was younger, to gain confidence in myself, and today somehow I want to protect them… You know, I don’t like to talk much about my private life.”
Both Sinner and Kalinskaya have made winning starts at the China Open. While Sinner will play his pre-quarterfinal match tomorrow, Kalinskaya will take on Peyton Stearns in the round of 32 match. It’ll be interesting to see if the power couple can dig deep in the tournament.