K-Swiss has signed Andrey Rublev, the current No. 6 tennis player in the world, a multiyear deal.
“This partnership with Andre Rublev shows our commitment to the sport of tennis as the north star of the K-Swiss brand, and our growing strength as a leader of the category,” K-Swiss president Barney Waters said in a statement.
The exec stated Rublev will wear the brand’s Free Motion apparel and Hypercourt Pinnacle shoes this week for the 2024 US Open, which will be introduced in early 2025. “A player of his caliber will provide a perfect platform for the performance innovation we have in our product pipeline,” Waters said.
Rublev, 26, won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mixed doubles, and most recently won the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid in April.
The athlete is also an entrepreneur. For instance, he launched his Rublo clothing brand in 2023. K-Swiss said in a statement that the first Rublo collection, dubbed “Play for the Kids,” raised more than $150,000 in less than two months and the funds were distributed through the athlete’s Andrey Rublev Foundation, which provides essential resources and support to children struggling with critical illnesses.
K-Swiss stated it will deliver a collaborative collection with Rublo featuring apparel and a limited-edition performance sneaker.
“I am incredibly excited to be partnering with a global brand like K-Swiss. I admire what the brand stands for and have been impressed with the team’s dedication and vision,” Rublev said in a statement. “I am grateful and thrilled to see our collaboration with my own brand, Rublo, bringing it to the next level. I couldn’t imagine a better partner to join forces with, and I look forward to being part of the K-Swiss family.”
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
