Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych has signed a new apparel deal with Swedish fashion chain H&M.
The 27-year-old current world number six becomes H&M’s first tennis brand ambassador. As well as wearing H&M clothing on and off the court, he will work with the company to develop its first-ever collection of tennis wear, which is set for launch later this year.
“This is H&M’s first foray into tennis and it is very flattering for me to be their first ambassador,” said Berdych, who previously wore Nike. “I love fashion, and it's great to now have H&M to help me develop my tennis and off-court apparel. I'm sure we will do great things together.”
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Berdych has been wearing non-branded apparel since his Nike deal ended at the end of 2012. His new long-term deal with H&M follows the company's sportswear line launch last summer and is from the same mould as world number one Novak Djokovic’s multi-million dollar partnership with Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo.
“Tomas is such an exciting player, and he also cares greatly about style,” said H&M chief executive Karl Johan-Persson. “We can’t wait to start working with him, to watch Tomas wear H&M on court, and to see our upcoming collection with him in H&M stores worldwide.”
H&M also has an underwear deal in place with soccer icon David Beckham.
Tomas Berdych – H&M