adminNEW YORK . — The US Open is a celebrity magnet, but the sight of NBA icon Michael Jordan watching tennis great Roger Federer compete creates a stir even among jaded New Yorkers.
Jordan, known for his love of golf, not tennis, turned out to see 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer kick off his bid for a sixth US Open title in Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.
In a courtside interview with ESPN, Jordan admitted he knew nothing about tennis — but even he could appreciate Federer’s smooth movement on court.
“He’s a good athlete,” said Jordan, who sat in Federer’s box and received cheers when his image was shown on Arthur Ashe Stadium’s video screens.
“I know he played basketball a bit.”
Federer and Jordan — who both have long associations with apparel maker Nike — met for the first time in New York on Monday, Federer posted an Instagram selfie of the two.
In his 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win over Marinko Matosevic, Federer debuted a new Nike shoe — the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour AJ3 — designed to resemble the Jordan 3 — a sneaker released in 1988 that remains one of the most recognisable of the 29 signature shoes associated with Jordan. Asked about the shoes on court after the match, Federer seemed momentarily at a loss, but later said the collaboration on the shoes was “very special to me”. — AFP.
Online Reporter