Roger Federer’s Style Belongs in the Hall of Fame, Too

Roger Federer has always understood the power of a good silhouette. On the court, it was a sharply tailored polo, slim shorts, or a white sneaker; off it, a suit cut close to the body and with a European ease. Now, as he is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, there’s no denying Federer’s legacy is one that extends beyond the baseline—and into fashion.

On Saturday, Federer joins the likes of Billie Jean King and John McEnroe in the ITHF, which has been transformed into a living tribute to the 20-time Grand Slam champion. The exhibition, “Tennis, Transcended: Roger Federer’s Path to Greatness”, traces his rise from promising young player to one of tennis’s most accomplished—and fashionable—champions.

The celebration began 48 hours before his induction, at a cocktail celebration at Newport’s grand Marble House, where Federer appeared alongside fellow inductee Mary Carillo to kick off the weekend. Earlier in the day, Federer visited the museum for the first time with his wife, Mirka, and their children, taking in the memorabilia and marveling at the evolution of tennis style—including his own.

“We have a René Lacoste blazer, which he pointed out,” says Nicole Markham, the ITHF’s curator of collections, who accompanied Federer on his visit. “He was recognizing the evolution of classic style through the generations of tennis. As a player, he’s not just there to play the game; he really knows the history.”

While fashionable men had always existed in the sport—from Andre Agassi’s denim-wearing rebellion to Björn Borg’s striped Fila tracksuits—Federer embraced timeless sportswear codes to a tee. His on-court style existed within the hallmarks of the sport, but he refined them into a uniform all his own.

“He’s not the one with the most Grand Slams, but he is the one that everyone wants to emulate,” says Sunita Kumar Nair, author of Ace: The Times and Style of Tennis. “You can watch his play 50 years from now and not only would his play still be relevant, but what he’s wearing will also be relevant.”

The exhibition pairs match-worn kits and racquets with the story of a player who made athleticism look almost impossibly elegant. Highlights include the dapper sportswear-inspired outfit from his 2007 Wimbledon victory and the blue Nike polo shirt and shorts he wore to win his only French Open title in 2009. “It’s cliché hearing ‘elegance’ in the context of Roger,” JT Buzanga, the ITHF’s collections manager, notes. “But that’s who he is.”

While classic, Federer was never afraid to step outside the lines during his playing career. During an exhibition match at the 2017 US Open, he wore Virgil Abloh’s Off-White x Nike Air Jordans—just months before Abloh joined Louis Vuitton Men’s as the first Black artistic director in the brand’s history—and has since embraced a more creative role with On.

“Wearing the Virgil Abloh shoes was out of the box for him, but it showed his willingness to explore and try new things,” Kumar Nair explains. “Him embracing Virgil as a designer, despite the fact that his style is so classic, shows his understanding of how broad the game’s outreach can be.”

The interest around Federer’s induction was unlike anything the ITHF had seen. Its grounds were alive with fans from near and far, RF-branded merchandise, and Lemon Aces, the bright gin-and-lemon cocktail poured by Silent Pool Gin, the ITHF’s official cocktail partner. Consider it Newport’s answer to the US Open’s Honey Deuce.

“He’s adored worldwide,” Buzanga says. “Even though he’s been retired for five years, he still makes an impact on the sport. The adoration that everyone has for him is unbelievable.”

The Hall of Fame may have closed the book on Federer’s career, but his influence is hardly finished.