Nike’s first-ever fan merchandise for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is making headlines, but not for the reason the brand would have hoped. The newly released graphic t-shirts, celebrating two of the brightest stars in men’s tennis, have received negative feedback from tennis fans who say the designs look rushed, uninspired, and unworthy of the players they represent.
Why Are Fans Slamming Nike’s First Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Merchandise?
For years, tennis enthusiasts have criticized Nike for outfitting its roster of elite players in what some consider unimaginative kits and failing to market them effectively. With this drop, the American brand, which sponsors much of the sport’s top talent, appeared to be making strides toward more player-focused offerings.
Last year, for example, Nike’s Shanghai Open apparel for Sinner, featuring a personalized fox logo, was met with enthusiasm for its creativity and nod to the Italian’s nickname. Expectations were similarly high for the Alcaraz and Sinner tees.
Two thoughts on Nike and Sinner’s image:
1.Finally, we can put those carrots to bed and restore the fox —the only true symbol that represents Jannik.https://t.co/h4R81O9km4, release these shirts immediately. And make sure they’re available online, pronto! #SinnerStyle… pic.twitter.com/k0yFkNx5Yb
— TennisTime (@Tennistimechat) October 3, 2024
However, the designs left many unimpressed. The Sinner version is a white cotton tee with a blocky brick-pattern graphic, while the Alcaraz shirt comes in black with tennis ball imagery and the player’s nickname “Carlitos” printed on the front. Neither shirt has appeared on Nike’s U.S. site yet, though both are available via Tennis-Warehouse.com, which is currently priced at $45.
Nike just dropped Alcaraz and Sinner T-shirts
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After images of the shirts surfaced on Reddit, fans wasted no time voicing their disappointment. One commenter wrote, “I swear so many big-brand design solutions (regardless of media) so often look so bland that it boosts my confidence I could land such a job one day as a mediocre designer LMAO.”
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Another joked, “Lol these are so bad I was gonna ask if this post was real or a parody… Then I read the comments and figured out it’s real.”
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Others were more blunt, with one remarking, “13 yo in Canva can do better takes less than an hour.” Others even pointed to artificial intelligence as an alternative, with one comment reading, “Even AI will produce better designs than this. They couldn’t even spend the time to prompt an AI .”
The frustration also stemmed from the missed opportunity to integrate meaningful player symbols. “Just put their name on a random tennis-related image and that’s it. No originality whatsoever. Why they don’t go with fox or carrot with Jannik and bee for Alcaraz, at least that would be more authentic,” one fan suggested.
Another expressed disappointment with Nike’s recent creative output: “Just like everything else from the past five years, Nike continues to put out the laziest, most boring designs possible. I’ve been so hyped for Sincaraz merch (where is Jannik’s fox logo??) and will absolutely not be getting these.”
And for some, the verdict was final: “These are horrible designs. Truly horrendous. No one should be tricked into buying these just because they are Alcaraz/Sinner branded.”
MORE: Jannik Sinner Refuses To Go Golfing With Carlos Alcaraz in Amusing Revelation at Cincinnati Open
Sinner and Alcaraz are currently competing at the Cincinnati Open, where they have advanced to the Round of 16. Sinner is set to meet French qualifier Adrian Mannarino, while Alcaraz will face lucky loser Luca Nardi.
