Starts of tennis seasons are focused on the Australian Open warm-up and announcements of new clothing deals. Czech-born American Nichole Melichar is introducing a new logo to the courts, revealing partnership with little-known company Neptune Athletics.
The doubles world No.20 published the above photo on Instagram during last week’s Brisbane International, but she confused us when she played her doubles matches clad in Mizuno apparel, her previous sponsor.
A week later, posting from her Adelaide International practice, it looks like Melichar has definitely switched to Neptune, recognizable by the trident logo. I suppose the 26-year-old doubles specialist will wear this dress when she takes the court as top seed alongside China’s Xu Yifan against the team of Danielle Collins and Alicja Rosolska on Tuesday.
Even though Neptune seems to be a very new company, they will equip Melichar with tennis shoes as well. Their first Instagram post was published only five weeks ago. As I’m writing this, they have just 70 followers and their bio reads “coming soon”.
Neptune Athletics also have a representative on the ATP Tour — singles world No.54 Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia.