After Jack Draper’s Andre Agassi-inspired shoes, here’s something else

US: Paying tribute to the tennis legend, Britain’s Jack Draper wore Andre Agassi-inspired Nike shoes after the US Open – although he joked that the shoes would not be on his feet during serious play. Draper, the world number 25, saluted the tennis icon after his straight-sets quarterfinal win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Thursday morning. Before the victory interview on court, the British tennis star removed his playing shoes and wore Agassi Nike Air Tech Challenge II shoes in a bright “hot lava” colour, reminiscent of the eight-time Grand Slam champion’s trademark look in the 1990s. “I don’t know how he (Agassi) walks with these shoes,” Draper said. “Honestly, I can’t even imagine slipping into them.” The British player was then asked if he has ever competed wearing Agassi classics.
The US Open has turned into a runway of footwear flair.
Known for his stellar fashion game, Frances Tiafoe – who will compete in an all-American semifinal against Taylor Fritz – sealed his spot wearing a pair of red, orange and white Nike trainers. His Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1 Premium shoes, which retail for US$170, are tailor-made for the hard court and feature a grey gradient that transitions to red and bright orange along the sole. Tiafoe wore Nike from head to toe to the New York hard court with a two-tone purple outfit, completing his look with a headband and wristbands. After a four-year hiatus from international tennis, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka vowed to make her US Open return. And she did. “My US Open outfit is going to be the best outfit ever and I am so excited,” Osaka posted on the threads.