Djokovic vs. Nishikori: The 2014 UNIQLO Fashion Battle

Novak Djokovic has had a bit of a post-Wimbledon letdown on the court, losing in the third round of the Rogers Cup to eventual champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and at the same stage in Cincinnati to Gilles Simon.  Japanese No. 1 Kei Nishikori missed most of the North American hardcourt season when it was revealed at the Citi Open that an infected big toe in fact turned out to be a cyst requiring a surgical removal.

Still, if the two UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassadors don’t manage to face off at the U.S. Open, we can look at their contrasting summer tennis threads to date in 2014.  In Toronto, Djokovic wore bright white and baby blue:

all photos of Novak Djokovic at the 2014 Rogers Cup by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Curiously, the Serb’s “Performance Wear” on the U.S. version of the UNIQLO website includes replica DRY-EX apparel of his Grand Slam gear instead of the actual genuine articles, from the $59.90 track jackets all the way down to the $9.90 white socks and wristbands.  The site is already selling versions of the No. 1-ranked player’s expected outfits for the U.S. Open; his expected short-sleeved polo shirts will alternate between red and navy blue, the shorts between navy blue and white.

Nishikori, currently seeded 10th in New York, made his lone U.S. Open Series appearance in Washington, D.C.  His styling was almost the opposite of Djokovic’s, with a white top and hat to go with dark blue shorts.

all photos of Kei Nishikori at the 2014 Citi Open by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Nishikori’s replica gear is available on the Japanese version of the UNIQLO website alongside countryman and wheelchair tennis star Shingo Kunieda.  Price points are similar to Djokovic’s apparel.  For now, we’ll have to say that it’s a tie for the two UNIQLO ambassadors’ outfits: clean lines, play-it-safe solid colors with subtle striping, and equally modest accessories – a far cry from Tomas Berdych’s H&M fashions as of late: