ATP Mallorca: Sweaty Ben Shelton Triggers Tennis Fans to Bash Roger Federer-Invested Brand Over ‘Worse’ Kits

Roger Federer’s ON apparel has struck the wrong chords in fans’ hearts, with Ben Shelton being the latest victim! The American tennis pro who was swinging his racquet in the Mallorca Championships struggled to show his usual magic against Paul Jubb. However, his defeat was not the only headline. When fans saw the 21-year-old’s sweat-drenched tennis attire, they ridiculed the latest kit of ON apparel once again.

On June 27, Ben Shelton’s match with Jubb didn’t yield a satisfying result for the American player. Losing in the quarterfinal with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, the World No. 14 had to stomach his second grasscourt defeat this season, following his first-round loss at the Queen’s Club championships. However, after the match, a Reddit user posted, “How is On not mortified by the horrific quality of their kits? Look at how drenched Ben Shelton was in Mallorca yesterday. Looks so uncomfortable!”

Soon, the attention shifted towards his “uncomfortable” attire, which instantly became a source of dismay among fans. The video showed a glimpse of Shelton mid-match, tired and completely soaked in sweat, in his ON apparel kit. His t-shirt had a unique blend of white, pink, and dark purple at the center. Matching with his t-shirt, he wore fully dark purple shorts. Last but not least, he had his usual white sneakers on, completing his ON apparel kit for the match.

Roger Federer’s association with ON started back in 2019. The Swiss Maestro, who owns a 3% share of the brand, has different ON apparel, especially ON Running shoes. Unfortunately, fans have started to question the design of the apparel and sneakers produced by the company. On top of that, this is also not the first time this has happened!

Fans react to Ben Shelton’s ON apparel at his latest match in Mallorca

Ben Shelton’s clay-court attire in Roland Garros also received a similar reaction from fans. Interestingly, his uniform there was quite similar to his Mallorca event kit. It had the same blend of pink, white, and purple in his t-shirt. Disappointed fans called it “terrible”, and “worse.” Now, once again, fans are not happy with his ON apparel kit.

One Reddit user, confused at the uniform’s texture and quality, wrote, “I’ve noticed it on those shirts specifically. Has anyone seen this shirt up-close? Either it’s like paper thin, or it just looks shiny/wet by default. If it’s super-thin, it might be comfortable if it actually breathes… Like, if you pull the shirt off your stomach, does it suction on, or does the air go right through?”

Another tennis fan, who owns an ON t-shirt as well, wrote, “I have the black one and it is ever so slightly shiny which makes sweating look worse than it is.” Shelton’s association with ON began back in March last year. Although he became one of the first male tennis players to grace the courts with ON attire, now fans are questioning his decision to join hands with the company.

Another fan had a different perspective, saying, “Yeah, as someone who sweats a fu**ton and doesn’t adjust well to differing humidity levels and temperatures, this is just how it is.”As he pointed out, the weather conditions are indeed one of the reasons behind his soaking wet t-shirt. Even, in the video, the commentator said, “It’s a sunny day in Mallorca,” which not only hinted at Shelton’s bright performance but also underscored the hot temperatures in Spain. However, that alone might not be the case because, even in the Australian Open earlier this season, his black and pink t-shirts did not sit right with fans. 

At the U.S. Open last year, Ben Shelton’s black and pink attire received heavy criticism. It seems that Shelton is unable to impress his fans with his tennis uniforms. One Reddit user wrote, “their lack of wicking has been a topic here since he joined the brand, and they don’t seem to have done anything about it.”

To one fan, it’s just the humidity and heat: “It has nothing to do with the kits. It’s 90 degrees in 60%+ humidity. People are gonna sweat.” Apart from Shelton, Iga Swiatek and João Fonseca also wore ON apparel in different matches. Sadly, none of them have made fans appreciate the material or quality of ON kits.

Ben Shelton might not have impressed his fans with his attire, but as Wimbledon draws near, he is sure to entertain fans with his incredible on-court skills!