In advance of the French Open, which begins May 24, Nike and Parisian retailer Colette are partnering on two styles for Maria Sharapova, the tournament’s defending champion and a Nike-sponsored athlete.
The styles — the NikeCourt Zoom Vapor 9 Tour x Colette and the NikeCourt Tennis Classic x Colette — will hit the retailer’s shelves and Nike.com on May 21.
The Zoom Vapor 9, first launched in 2012 by Nike design legend Tinker Hatfield, comes decked out in Colette’s signature blue colors and iconic dots, with a number of subtle nods to Sharapova, who will wear the shoe with a color-coordinated Nike dress.
Among the call-outs: The back tab of the left shoe features five symbols to commemorate Sharapova’s five major championships, as well as a sock liner inscribed with a motivational quote: “I am not the next anyone, I am the first Maria Sharapova.”
The shoes also feature a stark white hue over the length of the upper, finishing off a look made for the courts and beyond.
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The classic shoe was “popularized on the capable feet of a hot-tempered superstar who literally swore by them,” according to a Nike statement. It “embodies tennis tradition and style” and boasts soft-grain-leather uppers for added comfort.
