Style Points: Players making an impact in blue and yellow at Indian Wells
While the BNP Paribas Open usually serves as the perfect venue to debut spring tennis apparel, the most memorable looks of the event have had little to do with trendy colors or collaborations.
Who wore what? Style Points breaks down the latest collabs, kits and fashion statements from around the tennis world.
While the picturesque BNP Paribas Open usually serves as the perfect venue to unveil spring tennis apparel, the most memorable on-court looks of the tournament have little to do with trendy colors or collaborations. This week’s Style Points highlights the standout collections that made their debut at Indian Wells.
As a Fila-sponsored event, it makes perfect sense that the sportswear brand celebrated the tournament with the launch of an all-new spring collection. Designed in collaboration with Christoher Bevans, the “Bevans Park Collection” takes its inspiration from the designer’s park courts in Portland, Oregon.
“Geometrical designs, pastel blues and vibrant orange and pinks give the collection a high-energy feel that's similar to a park player,” wrote TENNIS.com’s Jordaan Sanford, in her review of the collection’s launch in Indian Wells. Seen here on American players Sam Querrey and Shelby Rogers:
"It's about all levels of playing the game and appreciating the game," Bevans told Baseline. "You have your players that you look up to and admire, and if you can wear the same kit that they're wearing, you're going to step out with a little bit more pop in your step.
"That park life is the essence of the community of the sport."
At Indian Wells, Nike created a custom kit for Rafael Nadal that Twitter said had him looking like a character straight out of Dragon Ball Z. Nadal wore a “magma orange” shirt and “deep royal blue” shorts adorned with his signature bull logo as he extended his winning streak to 16 matches in a row.
The California desert also provided the perfect backdrop for NikeCourt’s delightful Spring Victory collection, which featured a variety of dresses and separates in cool teal and coral tones—seen below on Emma Raducanu and top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
But in a time of war and uncertainty, the most memorable looks of the tournament have had little to do with trendy colors or collaborations—and everything to do with making a statement of solidarity.
With the world still reeling from the fallout of Russia’s illegal military attack on Ukraine, players like Ivanna and Dayana Yastremska, above, have taken to showing their support for the Ukrainian people by donning the yellow and blue of their country’s flag—and they're not alone. Over the last two weeks, several players have followed suit: a powerful move, especially when you consider that most kit options and collections are normally decided by the sponsors and coordinated months in advance.
"I play for my country,” said Elina Svitolina, who paired her teal NikeCourt ensemble with a yellow visor. “My mission is to unite the tennis community and to support Ukraine, because it is terrible what all Ukrainians are going through right now."
In an individual, and often fragmented, sport like tennis, the pops of yellow and blue on court and in the stands have been a unifying show of solidarity that highlights the first week of the tournament—and it also extended to players who hail from outside Ukraine. The Moscow-born Australian player Daria Saville (nee Gavrilova), Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy's Fabio Fognini have all taken the court in yellow and blue.
Other players also sported yellow and blue ribbons during their matches—as seen here on defending champion Paula Badosa, who also wrote ‘no war’ on her visor.
“I want to show, even if symbolically, my solidarity with Ukraine," said Iga Swiatek.