Kalinskaya on the moment Adidas let her down and why she stopped wearing their gear

Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya recently discussed her disappointing experience with Adidas and why she eventually decided to stop wearing the brand as “a matter of principle.”

The 27-year-old had been sponsored by Adidas until her agreement officially expired at the start of 2024. Initially, she continued to wear Adidas gear on court simply out of habit and personal preference, even without an active contract.

Speaking on Elena Vesnina’s tennis podcast, Kalinskaya explained a moment that changed her perspective. Ahead of her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2024 Australian Open against Zheng Qinwen, an Adidas official asked her for tickets to the match. Kalinskaya initially assumed the request meant Adidas was planning to offer her a new deal. However, not only was there no discussion of continuing the partnership, but the company also never reached out again.

“When I was told after Australia that they hadn’t offered me a new contract, I said, ‘Alright, what can you do? I don’t want to wear Adidas.’ Yes, it was a matter of principle. Especially after the person asked me to come to the box for the quarterfinal – before that, they didn’t care how I was playing. And after that, they didn’t get in touch, said nothing after the match. I was probably disappointed in the company.”

After the awkward situation, Kalinskaya was spotted in Alo Yoga gear. That same year she signed with Nike and has been representing the brand since. The first time she wore Nike apparel at a tournament was at the 2024 China Open in Beijing. (via Tennis World USA)