Roger Federer left Nike after 24 years and unveiled his new endorsement deal at Wimbledon. Federer has joined Uniqlo with a new deal that is reportedly worth over $300 million. Despite the separation from Nike, Federer is still wearing personalized Nike shoes that include an updated logo just for the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. Roger Federer made his rumored divorce from Nike official by taking the court at Wimbledon in Uniqlo apparel. According to Darren Rovell of ESPN, Federer recently signed a new contract with Uniqlo worth over $300 million over ten years and is guaranteed even if he retires before it expires. The new deal technically ends Federer's 24-year relationship with Nike, but it appears the two sides are not entirely out of each other's lives yet. While Federer was in Uniqlo apparel for his opening match at Wimbledon, he was still wearing Nike shoes. It is not unusual for an athlete to wear shoes from a company they are not endorsing — he has to wear something — but it is interesting to note that the shoes were still personalized with a unique logo specific for this year's tournament even though his Nike contract expired more than a month ago. Here is a close-up of the shoes. In addition to Federer's Nike RF logo, the logo on the right shoe has the No. 8, reflecting how many Wimbledon's he has won. Matthew Lewis/Getty Images For comparison, here are Federer's shoes from the 2017 Wimbledon Championships, before winning his eighth title. Julian Finney/Getty Images According to Rovell, the RF logo belongs to Nike, but Federer is optimistic that a deal will be worked out so that he can still use it. "Federer says that although Nike has owned his 'RF' logo since 2010, he expects to work a deal out to transfer the logo to him so he can use it going forward," Rovell wrote.<doc-sep>Sandra Harwitt Special to USA TODAY Sports WIMBLEDON, England — It is familiar territory for eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer to be the first player to play on Wimbledon’s Centre Court on the opening Monday of The Championships. It’s an honor that has always been extended to the men’s defending champion, and which Federer has enjoyed on nine occasions, stepping in as the previous year’s finalist for the injured Rafael Nadal in 2009. This year, however, there was something very different about Federer’s appearance as he walked on court, which marks his 20th consecutive year playing singles at Wimbledon, an Open era record in the men’s game. For the first time since he signed his initial contract in 1994, Federer stepped out in something other than Nike clothing. Federer is signed to a contract as a global brand ambassador with the Japanese apparel company Uniqlo, which bills itself as a “life company that creates LifeWear.” MORE:Sloane Stephens knocked out in first round at Wimbledon MORE:Serena Williams questions frequency of her drug tests MORE:Petra Kvitova shares harrowing bond with Monica Seles The endorsement deal is reportedly an eyeball-popping figure when it comes to payment, but there’s been no official announcement on what he’s earning from Uniqlo. Reports have it that he will make at least $30 million a year for the 10-year contract, which led a reporter to ask him about his new $300 million deal. “It’s good you know my contract or you have no clue and you’re just saying something,” said Federer, laughing, after he defeated Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. “I was excited to wear Uniqlo today. I must tell you, it’s been a long time coming. I felt very good out there.” It is believed, but also has never been verified, that his most recent Nike 10-year deal which ended on March 1 of this year, improved his bank account assets by around $12 million a year. According to Forbes magazine, Federer rakes in more than $65 million a year via endorsements, which doesn’t include tournament prize money. There was a hint that a Federer wardrobe change was coming Sunday when he came to do his Wimbledon pre-tournament press conference. He arrived at the interview room looking very smart in an open shirt topped by a blazer that was completed with his Wimbledon members pin affixed to the collar. Gone, at least temporarily, is his personal — and popular with fans — RF monogrammed line. He debuted the signature brand by wearing a white warmup jacket embroidered with shiny gold initials at Wimbledon 2006, becoming the only Nike endorser besides Tiger Woods with his own initialed collection. Federer, however, believes the RF brand will make a powerful comeback as part of the Uniqlo collection. “So the RF logo is with Nike at the moment, but it will come to me at some point,” he said. “I hope rather sooner than later, that Nike can be nice and helpful in the process to bring it over to me. It’s also something that was very important for me, for the fans really. “The good news is that it will come with me at one point. They are my initials. They are mine.” For now, Federer donned a simple white outfit — it’s whites only at Wimbledon — with plans to up the clothing game in the pipeline. “Obviously we need to figure out with Uniqlo at what point we can start selling clothes for the public as well,” he said. “We’re hopeful the beginning of next year people can start buying my stuff. For the moment, as fast at retailing as they are, as great as they are, it just needs a bit of time.” There was, however, one remnant remaining as a reflection of Federer’s former self on court. Uniqlo is an apparel company and doesn’t do shoes, so his feet looked familiar as he scooted around the court in Nike sneakers. “With the shoe situation, I don't have a shoe deal,” Federer said. “I’m looking forward to see what shoes I will be wearing in the near future. For now, I will be wearing Nike. They have shown interest to have a shoe deal with me, as well. Ties are not broken there. I have deep roots with Nike. I've had a great relationship over the last 20 years. “But everything is open,” he added. “Yeah, it's very exciting also again to see what's out there, who wants to do something with me.” Federer joins 24th-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan, wheelchair tennis players Shingo Kunieda of Japan and Gordon Reid of Britain, and Australian golfer Adam Scott as Uniqlo ambassadors. Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, is not the first major tennis name to endorse Uniqlo. Novak Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam champion, wore the Japanese brand until last year when he signed a five-year deal with Lacoste. Rafael Nadal continues to wear Nike in what is reportedly a $50 million, five-year deal, which expires at the end of this year. Serena Williams is also a Nike contracted player. In terms of tennis, Federer received a bit of good news regarding his hope of retaining the Wimbledon title. Borna Coric,, who denied Federer the title at Halle, Germany, just over a week ago, was ousted in straight sets by Daniil Medvedev of Russia. The 16th-seeded Coric was potentially a quarterfinal opponent here for Federer.<doc-sep>
The partnership between Roger Federer and Uniqlo becoming official on Monday was the topic of the day. The Swiss player headed into the Centre Court for his first round match against the Serb Dusan Lajovic wearing headband, shorts, t-shirt, wristbands producted by the Japanese brand. ‘I was excited to wear Uniqlo today', said Federer. 'I must tell you, it’s been a long time coming. I felt very good out there. It’s also crucial to play well, so it was helpful. The RF logo is with Nike at the moment, but it will come to me at some point. I hope rather sooner than later, that Nike can be nice and helpful in the process to bring it over to me. It’s also something that was very important for me, for the fans really. Look, it’s the process. But the good news is that it will come with me at one point. They are my initials. They are mine. The good thing is it’s not theirs forever. In a short period of time, it will come to me. Obviously we also need to figure out with Uniqlo when at one point we can start selling clothes for the public as well. All this has just gotten underway. We’re hopeful the beginning of next year people can also start buying my stuff. For the moment, as fast at retailing as they are, as great as they are, it just needs a bit of time.’ Uniqlo doesn't produce tennis shoes, so another brand will be needed for Federer. ‘With the shoe situation, I don’t have a shoe deal. I’m looking forward to see what shoes I will be wearing in the near future. For now, I will be wearing Nike. They have shown interest to have a shoe deal with me, as well. Ties are not broken there. I have deep roots with Nike. I’ve had a great relationship over the last 20 years. But everything is open. Yeah, it’s very exciting also again to see what’s out there, who wants to do something with me.'