Why do tennis players in the Davis Cup use different kits?

Even in team events like the Davis Cup, tennis maintains commercial practices typical of individual sports. This trait is easy to spot in the uniforms worn by the athletes competing in the ongoing Final Eight in Malaga. Regardless of the national teams they represent, players step onto the court dressed in t-shirts and shorts branded by their individual sponsors. This was most apparent during last night's doubles matches, where Italy's Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini faced off against Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni. Sinner opted for a light blue Nike polo shirt with a zip, the same model worn by Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Olympics. In contrast, Berrettini sported a darker blue shirt from Boss, featuring a narrow vertical tricolor stripe down the center of the back. They also wore different hats: Sinner chose a light blue cap, while Berrettini went with a white one.

The aesthetic dynamics of the Italian national tennis team became even more intricate thanks to Lorenzo Musetti's outfit. Despite sharing the same technical sponsor as fellow player Jannik Sinner, Musetti took to the court against Francisco Cerundolo wearing a synthetic t-shirt rather than the signature polo of the current ATP number one. This trend, however, isn’t unique to Italian players. Spain’s iconic stars Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz opted for their distinctive red Nike jerseys. In their matches against Australia, Taylor Fritz sported a stylish suit from Boss, while Ben Shelton showcased an outfit designed by Swiss company On. Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis represented the brand Cotton On, and Francisco Cerundolo wore adidas gear. And the list goes on and on.

In the sport of tennis, unlike in football, athletes are not required to wear a specific outfit, since there are no established regulations that compel them to do so. The primary guideline comes from agreements between each player and their technical sponsors, who have the authority to design the athletes' attire, even when they are competing on behalf of their national teams. The only uniformity among team members appears in the official tracksuit, which is provided by the federation's contracted sponsor. This tracksuit is worn during pre-match and post-match events, irrespective of the individual players’ sponsorships. For example, players from Italy and Spain were outfitted in Joma-designed tracksuits, while their counterparts from Argentina were dressed in Fila gear. On the court, the sole regulatory focus is on the color combination of the players' outfits, which includes a shirt and shorts that must adhere to specific color guidelines, regardless of the player's technical sponsor. This is why all Italian tennis players wear white shorts, despite having different sponsorship agreements.