Arthur Rinderknech – Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6 with Custom Outsole
At about the same time Arthur Rinderknech made the switch to apparel sponsor, Psycho Bunny, he also switched from the stable Asics Gel Resolution 9 to the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6. The Wave Exceed Tour 6 are known for their lightweight feel and solid lateral stability. A closer look shows that he has a custom outsole with a different tread pattern. He’s found great form this past week with a finals appearance in Shanghai, showing that both his gear and game are trending in the right direction.
Retail Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6:
Arthur Rinderknech Custom Outsole:
Juncheng ‘Jerry’ Shang- Asics Solution Speed FF 3
Chinese youngster, Jerry Shang, who is a Nike athlete is often seen wearing his trusty Nike Vapor Pro 1s. However, Shang was seen wearing a whiteout version of the Asics Solution Speed FF3s in Beijing and Shanghai. It’s unclear if he’s making a full switch or just testing them out, but the Asics model fits his fast, aggressive style of play.
Learner Tien – Adidas Defiant Speed 2
One of tennis’s rising young stars, Learner Tien, chooses the Adidas Defiant Speed 2 as his go-to shoe on the court and it’s easy to see why. Tien made a stunning breakthrough by reaching his first ATP Tour final in Beijing. Built for quick, aggressive movers, the shoe is lightweight and responsive, giving Tien the kind of speed and support he needs to chase down shots and change direction with confidence. The Lightstrike midsole gives more bounce and cushioning than earlier versions, while the heel counter helps keep your foot secure and supported during quick moves.
Most of the shoes listed here can be found at our partners below:
- Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada)
- Tennis Warehouse Europe (10% off with code TNERD10)
- Tennis Only (AU)
- HEAD official website (USA)
- Wilson official website
- Racketspecialisten (Sweden)
- Tennis Point (UK): (Germany, Spain, Italy, France).
Alexander Zverev – Custom Adidas Defiant Speed 2
Alexander Zverev is among the highest-profile players rocking the Adidas Defiant Speed 2, despite being the main endorser of the Ubersonic 5. Unlike Tien’s Defiant Speed 2, Zverev’s version has a custom outsole, though it isn’t clear whether the foam in his model is different from the retail edition. You can see Zverev’s pair in Shanghai having an all white outsole.
Felix Auger-Aliassime – Adidas Barricade 13 25th Anniversary edition
Felix Auger-Aliassime is one of the few Adidas-sponsored players who has stepped onto the Shanghai courts wearing the Adidas Barricade 13 25th Anniversary edition. This special model comes in a striking silver metallic and dash-grey colorway, a nod to the Barricade’s quarter-century legacy, and stands apart with the classic stability and durability the line is celebrated for.
Marcelo Arévalo – EA7 tennis shoes
Doubles specialist, Marcelo Arévalo, has been sporting EA7 apparel since late 2022 and in later October 2024, he started wearing the brand’s line of tennis shoes as well. EA7, Armani’s sports line, has made a name for itself by blending high fashion with solid performance, and Arévalo’s shoes are a perfect example. The midsole shank of the shoe is reminiscent of the Asics Gel Resolution.
His previous shoe model is also advertised as a unisex shoe, which you do not see too often.
Bu Yunchaokete – Fila SpeedServe Energized
Bu Yunchaokete recently made a noticeable change in his kit, switching from Yonex apparel to Fila last September. He also seems to be wearing an older shoe model with, the SpeedServe Energized, which was released back in 2022.
We’ve seen some of the best tennis shoes at the Beijing and Shanghai events, have you played yourself with any of these models?
Written by Andy Tan
