'Eyes are bleeding': Fans fume over Roger Federer's 'ugliest outfit ever'
Roger Federer has returned to Roland Garros as if he had never been away, sweeping into the second round of the French Open with ease.
The 20-time grand slam champion is playing the year's second major tournament for the first time in four years and had no trouble finding his feet on the redeveloped Court Philippe Chatrier as he dispatched Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 6-2 6-4 6-4 in just an hour and 41 minutes on Sunday.
While fans were over the moon to see the Swiss legend back in action in Paris, many were left scratching their heads over his new outfit.
Federer stepped out onto the red clay sporting a rather bland brown shirt and white shorts, a stark contrast to the striking colours of his rivals.
He looked more like a New Zealand cricketer of the late 80s than a tennis champion in 2019, and fans certainly let him know on social media:
Roger Federer's outfit at Roland Garros is one of the ugliest colour combination I have ever seen. 😵#RG19 #RolandGarros #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/bZXHSCvhZS
— Rohan Acharya (@RohanNotAcharya) May 26, 2019
Uniqlo clearly didn't put much effort into Federer's #RG19 outfit.
— ジェーソン (@halfjase) May 26, 2019
I'm no fashion expert but Federer's outfit is a big no #RG19
— Oli Dickson Jefford (@oliverdj1998) May 26, 2019
I’ve only got round to watching some #RG now & what is this murky brown/grey outfit that the 🐐 Federer is wearing?! Nee man.
It does not pair well with that gorgeous backhand!— Cato Louw (@catolouw) May 26, 2019
Federer’s outfit is so ugly my eyes are bleeding. 😭 #RolandGarros
— Indra (@lndraAM) May 26, 2019
Ah. Roger Federer's outfit looks worse every time I look at it. Eesh. #RG19
— Biola Solace-Chukwu (@Beeorlicious) May 26, 2019
However it wasn’t all disdain, with many feeling it suited Federer:
Federer can actually make this outfit look good. He is already peaking at #RG19 pic.twitter.com/cmNP4pqe5v
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 26, 2019
A lot of players look great in their outfits, but Federer always lookin' CRISP! Gets his first win at #RolandGarros since 2015! #RG19 pic.twitter.com/aN1Tl629px
— Sam.Cam.Ent (@SamCamEnt1) May 26, 2019
Very nice #federer ‘s outfit with white line on grey t-shirt and grey line on white shorts #peRFect #classy #RG19 #rolandgarros #federervssonego
— Laura Guidobaldi (@LGuidobaldi) May 26, 2019
Stunning return
Federer next faces German lucky loser Oscar Otte, who won his first grand slam match against Malek Jaziri earlier.
The smell of fresh paint hung in the air at the famous venue as fans flocked to see Federer, the cry of 'Roger, Roger' ringing around as he took to the court.
It is 16 years since Federer last lost in the first round of a grand slam, to Luis Horna at the French Open in 2003, and Sonego is no mug, particularly on clay.
But, from the moment Federer's very first shot hit the net and dropped dead on the other side, the Italian must have had a sinking feeling.
Federer was at his creative best, chopping a backhand drop shot return over the net to break for a 4-0 lead, and keeping Sonego guessing as to which of his many game plans he would deploy at any moment.
Things looked distinctly grim for the 24-year-old, ranked 73, when Federer began the second set by breaking serve twice more but he at least made a match of it after that.
Federer showed he might be mortal after all by double-faulting on break point to allow Sonego to get back to 4-2, but the third seed wrapped up the set with no further alarms.
Sonego kept pace with his opponent through the first eight games of the third set, his vocal expressions becoming ever more desperate, but a break for Federer in the ninth game paved the way for victory.
with AAP