Tennis fans had been hyped, waiting on pins and needles for Ben Shelton’s first-ever exclusive US Open kit from On. We all spent our free time poring over Nike and Yonex offerings, just counting down the days until Shelton’s big reveal. But man, when it dropped, it was a massive letdown because that “exclusive” kit looked way too much like Flavio Cobolli’s.
The Big Reveal Was a Big Disappointment
This wasn’t just some minor resemblance, either. Despite the anticipation for Shelton’s *first* exclusive clothing from On, that pivotal moment was met with disappointment. The kits are incredibly similar. We’re talking no significant pattern, color, or design change between Shelton’s gear and what Cobolli is rocking. It really makes you wonder how “exclusive” it can be if it’s already got a doppelganger on court. And if that isn’t frustrating enough, someone on social media mentioned Shelton’s kit has been pictured on On’s website “for ages.” If that’s true, it just makes the whole “exclusive” rollout even worse.
Where’s the Fresh Look, On?
This isn’t a new problem. We’ve been bombarded by On’s colorblocking for ages. It feels like we’re constantly seeing the same designs, and honestly, fans deserve more. We want to see something fresh, something unique, especially when a player is getting their *own* line. Speaking of Cobolli, his kit will also be exclusive to him for the US Open after Joao Fonseca was forced to withdraw due to injury. It just highlights the issue when two “exclusive” kits from the same brand look almost identical.
The “Lights Out Collection” Is a Promising Step, At Least
Look, maybe we need to try and look past the obvious lack of creativity on this specific US Open kit. We should probably give On some credit for keeping Shelton engaged with the brand by offering him a clothing line, even if this particular release missed the mark. It’s called the “Lights Out Collection,” and it’s a promising step forward for a brand that many of us thought was trying to break through and become more mainstream. They even did a clever French Open social media promotion last spring, which felt like a push in the right direction. Hopefully, this “Lights Out Collection” can deliver on true individuality in the future, giving Shelton the unique look he deserves on court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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