Herzogenaurach, Germany - As the new tennis season begins with the Australian Open 2017, adidas Tennis revealed the latest performance wear to be worn by the best in the game. Players including Angelique Kerber, Dominic Thiem and Sascha Zverev will be equipped with brand new Melbourne and Barricade performance wear, designed to maximise performance at the first Grand Slam of 2017.
The Melbourne collection has been re-imagined with a fresh new look inspired by the city of the first Grand Slam of the year. The blue of the ocean combines with pops of bright orange to deliver a look matching the heat and environment of Melbourne. The men’s line offers a simple aesthetic through colour lines, while the women’s range includes a sun-washed graphic; guaranteeing players stand out in the Rod Laver arena.
The super lightweight collection is built to keep athletes cool in the Australian sun. ClimaLite materials encourage quick evaporation of sweat, and Climacool technology enhances the body’s ability to regulate its temperature in the heat of summer. Wearing the new Melbourne men’s collection will be Sascha Zverev, current world number 24 and the youngest player in the ATP top 50. Performing in the women’s collection will be defending champion, Angelique Kerber.
The Barricade range has evolved for the season with a host of fresh design details. The men’s collection is built to showcase the power and strength of the world’s best athletes, with technical features that ensure balance and support on the court.
Barricade apparel will be worn by Dominic Thiem world number 9 and 2016 Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Lotta Jurica Design Director adidas Tennis explains: “The conditions of an Australian summer can present a serious barrier to the players performing their best, so we have designed the collection to combat this. The lightweight designs and cooling fabrics will help them keep arrayed with patterns inspired by the local environment, layers symbolizing depth of the ocean and sky combined with sun bleached print, will enable the athletes to deliver stand-out performances whenever they step out on to the court.”
Angelique Kerber comments: “2016 was a special year for me and it all started in Melbourne where I won my first ever Grand Slam title. I’m excited to return to the courts of that success and look forward to defending my title. As such an important city to me, I love that adidas has designed the new outfit with Melbourne in mind. The conditions in Melbourne can often be a challenge, but with the cooling fabrics and technologies this is performance wear that will allow me to play at my best and give me a great shot of defending my title.”
The 2017 adidas Australian Open Melbourne and Barricade collections are available online now at http://www. adidas.com/tennis