Three-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz has seemingly confirmed his future as Nike’s next face of tennis by reportedly inking a new long-term sponsorship deal.
Alcaraz is expected to earn between $15m-$20m per year with the agreement expected to last until the next decade. The tennis world number one is also expected to receive his own signature logo as Nike positions the 21-year-old as the face of its tennis division.
Nike designed a dedicated signature logo for its former tennis athletes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal before Federer left for Uniqlo in 2018. With Nadal looking closer than ever to retiring from the sport, Alcaraz is being viewed as the next tennis great over the next decade, and it is easy to see why.
The Spaniard became the youngest-ever ATP world number one in 2022 following his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Since then, Alcaraz won the championship at Wimbledon last year as well as winning the French Open more recently last May.
Despite current ATP world number one Jannik Sinner also having his own Nike signature logo in 2021, Alcaraz’s early success has led many to believe he will become the face of tennis once Nadal and Novak Djokovic retire from the sport.
Securing Alcaraz’s future as a Nike athlete before this year’s Wimbledon and Olympic Games is key for the US sportswear company’s commercial opportunities this summer.
With Alcaraz reportedly agreeing to the Nike deal before the French Open last month, Nike has the potential to reveal the Alcaraz signature logo before Wimbledon’s 1 July start date, or before 27 July when the men’s tennis doubles begins in Paris.
Alcaraz will receive much attention at both events, with the 21-year-old looking to successfully defend the Wimbledon championship he won last year. Alcaraz will also pair with Nadal during the Olympic tennis doubles for Spain, which will signal Nadal’s final Olympic appearance and serve as a passing of the torch between both Nike athletes.
