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| Djokovic at the Italian Open. Credit: Credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia |
“It has been mutually and amicably decided that, as of the
2012 Roland Garros Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic will no longer be
the brand ambassador,” the Novara, northern Italy-based
manufacturer said in an e-mailed statement today, quoted by Business Week.
Nole signed with Tacchini in November 2009, when ranked third. The brand had already sponsored great tennis champions like Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis.
In its statement, Sergio Tacchini International recognized that Djokovic "outgrown the Italian brand" and "has grown
professionally, climbing from third to first place in the world
ATP ranking". "Although losing such a precious spokesperson, Tacchini is
offering Djokovic the opportunity to take on new challenges and
new sponsors", added Tacchini.
According to CNBC sources, Tacchini was able to
sign Djokovic by offering him a smaller guarantee than the larger
companies would pay, but promised bigger should he do well. When
Djokovic kept winning, the company fell behind on payments to the tennis
star. The italian brand, says CNBC, wasn't able to produce interesting outfits for the biggest tennis gear market, the United States, and, in fact, failed to deliver Djokovic's Grand Slam apparel to US retailers.
Serbian media is saying that Djokovic will sign with Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, who already sponsors Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori. But Nike and Adidas could also be in the run.
The Serbian player or his staff haven't made any comment on Sergio Tacchini's statement.
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