There is no doubt that certain brands have a stronger link to tennis than others, be it because they were established within tennis circles or simply because they back a load of top players.

Three main types of sponsors dominate the Tennis environments, and all have to do with making sure that players are kitted out with the best equipment and also look great.

When analysing the most popular sponsors around tennis, sportswear companies have jumped into fashion new kit and shoes for players.

Aside from clothing and shoes, the next big sponsor category is not a surprise as all players need at least one racket, and most have a bag full of their weapon of choice fully sponsored.

Another tennis tradition that has created a niche for brands is the trophy ceremony, where players will traditionally don a sponsored timepiece from a luxury watchmaker.

Wilson

According to analysts Global Data, racketmakers Wilson stand out as the brand that has the most number of high-profile tennis players sponsored.

Roger Federer’s final racket of choice was made by Wilson, who also supply the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka and Borna Coric, to name but a few of many.

Wilson Sporting Goods, founded in Chicago, Illinois, manufacture all manner of sport-related equipment supplying disciplines such as baseball, badminton, American football, basketball, softball, golf, racquetball, soccer, squash, tennis, pickleball and volleyball.

Nike

Nike supply the footwear to more top ten players than any other brand by a country mile.

They have a long association with the sport as one of the leading sports footwear manufacturers in the world.

The Nike Air Zoom Vapor range is one of the most popular shoes among tennis professionals.

Rolex

“Rolex and tennis first came together when the brand partnered with The Championships, Wimbledon, in 1978 as tennis was experiencing a powerful transformation,” the watchmakers themselves say of the partnership

“The brand gradually forged links with all of the sport’s elite competitions. Rolex now partners the four Grand Slam tournaments, all the major events in the men’s and women’s game and the leading international team contests.”

Rolex also has sponsorship deals with a number of top players including both the men’s and women’s current world No 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek.

Yonex

Founded in Japan, Yonex have built a global reputation as among the best racket makers in the business.

They have expanded their tennis offering to include shoes and other apparel.

Among their top sponsored athletes are 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Casper Ruud.

Babolat

Babolat’s relationship with tennis stretch back to the very genesis of the modern sport.

They pioneered the first natural gut strings for tennis rackets and have been in the business of supplying the sport since.

Babolat supply rackets to Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and more top players.

READ MORE: Who are Rafael Nadal’s sponsors?

Lacoste

Another quintessential ‘tennis’ brand, Lacoste was a brand started as a by players for players company.

Unique, bold but always classy, Lacoste has become a sought-after fashion brand.

They sponsor Novak Djokovic and kit out Daniil Medvedev from head to toe and offer special collections inspired by both players.

HEAD

Another premium racket-brand with the biggest names on their books, HEAD’s range of Speed rackets are endorsed by none other than Novak Djokovic.

Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner, and Taylore Fritz all use HEAD rackets, as do WTA stars Coco Gauff and Martina Trevisan.

HEAD, originally a skiing equipment company, also helped drive the use of new lightweight materials which have allowed the sport to leap into the future.

ASICS

ASICS can lay claim to making some of the best tennis shoes on the market to the point that some players have even suggested they can give someone significant edge.

Despite Iga Swiatek leaving the company as a sponsor the world No 1 still wears their shoes as she isn’t as happy with the new brand’s shoes.

ASICS also supply Novak Djokovic with his shoes building their whole range around his custom versions of the FF3 tennis shoe.

Dunlop

Dunlop are well known as a ball supplier but they also have a share in the racket and apparel supply business.

Emerging British star Jack Draper is among the top athletes backed by Dunlop.

Dunlop also supports both the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy and the IMG Tennis Academy as they look to the future of the sport.

Fila

Fila, which has long been connected with tennis, is the brand of choice for many top players today, including Marin Cilic, John Isner, and Karolina Pliskova.

The world-famous athleisure brand has appeared in tennis for decades.

Originally just a small local clothing company in the Italian Alps, Fila injected themselves into sportswear with a landmark sponsorship of Bjorn Borg in the 1970s.