Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open comeback may have ended in that epic quarter-final night battle with Ben Shelton, but for tennis fans, his return was a moment to celebrate: the game’s biggest young star, back under the lights, talent intact, and dressed for the occasion.
His basketball-inspired looks came courtesy of Nike’s collaboration with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack brand. The collaboration, plus the bromance between the tennis star and the rapper, has put tennis back on the style map.
The clothes – and the famous nip slip – sparked almost as much conversation as the comeback itself, proving that a collaboration, when done well, can travel far beyond the court. The collection felt like it struck a nerve in the same way Agassi’s kits did back in the 1990s, so we asked Nike fans, Challenge Court collectors and stylists for their take on the collection, its place in tennis style history and what it might mean for the future of tennis fandom.
Oisin Ru Cuchllain
Fashion stylist
BAGEL: Can a performance tennis shoe genuinely become a streetwear grail? And is the Cactus Jack Vapor 12 the shoe that could do it?
OC: Yes. Not necessarily among tennis players, but collectors will always do what they do. I’d play in them. They’re not worth keeping on ice unless money is your only motive.
BAGEL: Does the Cactus Jack x Nike collection feel like tennis influencing streetwear, or streetwear finally taking over tennis?
OC: It’s not tennis’s influence; it’s Carlos. He’s probably the most exciting player we’ve had since Roger Federer. Cactus Jack is jumping on that and introducing a hype dynamic to a sport less associated with it.
BAGEL: Which pieces have caught your eye?
OC: The Carlos T-shirt is an instant classic. I’m not usually into shorts, but the long sweat shorts are also nice. The Cactus hoodie caught my attention too. I’d pair the black Carlos tee with ecru linen trousers and a jacket for casual attire, and the light blue splatter shorts with a vintage polo for the tennis court.
Jun Chan
Creative Director and Nike megafan
BAGEL: What’s the one detail a casual fan might miss but a Nike collector would immediately understand?
JC: For me, it’s the reimagined Challenge Court logo originally designed for Andre Agassi. It’s a subtle detail, but a really nice nod to Nike’s tennis heritage and what that collection originally stood for.
BAGEL: What’s more interesting to you about the collection: the Travis Scott connection or the fact that Carlos is wearing it?
JC: Carlos wearing it, for sure. For me, it’s less about what’s actually in the collection and more about what Carlos might achieve while wearing it. That’s why we remember iconic tennis kits: Agassi’s jorts, Nadal’s pirate pants, Federer’s all-white suit and Serena’s countless iconic outfits.
BAGEL: What’s your favourite piece?
JC: I definitely can’t pull off the vest. So, for me, it’s the Vapor 12. It’s something I’d wear on court, and I know it’s still going to be a solid tennis shoe. I think that’s the piece tennis and sneaker collectors will really want.
AgassiEverything
Leading Andre Agassi fan account
BAGEL: The collection looks back to ’90s Nike tennis while attaching itself to one of the sport’s biggest contemporary stars. Is nostalgia still Nike’s most powerful cultural weapon?
AG: The collaboration taps into the Challenge Court aesthetic of the ’90s. Alcaraz embodies the personality, flash and style needed to bring those visuals from the past back to life. For years, fans have been asking Nike to return to its Challenge Court roots and revisit the Agassi era. We saw just how powerful that appetite was when the Challenge Court designs returned in 2020 for the 30th anniversary of Andre’s 1990 US Open collection. Matthias Wagner brought back Tom Andrich’s iconic designs, which left us all begging for more. The response was immediate, with the collection selling out quickly. Since then, Nike has been relatively quiet with that heritage. We’ve seen small references, such as the Challenge Court burning-ball graphic appearing on T-shirts, button-down shirts and jackets, but there’s clearly a much bigger opportunity. The Challenge Court era created a visual identity in tennis that has never been duplicated. Pairing that nostalgia with someone like Alcaraz introduces the designs to a new generation while satisfying older fans’ thirst for them. I always thought it would be a cool idea to have Carlos carry on the Challenge Court line while Jannik Sinner wore NikeCourt.
BAGEL: From Agassi’s denim to Serena’s catsuit and now Alcaraz x Cactus Jack, what does every great disruption of tennis style have in common?
AG: They are all etched into tennis fashion history. By wearing something that had never been seen before, each of the three athletes challenged what was considered acceptable on court. It gives players a special feeling that sets them apart. When it came to wearing Nike’s denim shorts, Andre said: “When I put those on, I just felt better than I did before I put them on. I associated them with rebellion, with expanding the game and changing the game.” I’d like to think all three athletes experienced a similar feeling when wearing those clothes.
BAGEL: What’s the one piece you’d cop from the collection?
AG: I copped so many pieces from this collection, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Cactus Jack x Nike Cactus Court Zip Windbreaker. It nods to Andre’s 1993 Challenge Court zip-up jacket. They didn’t cut any corners when it came to the quality of the products.
Alka Monaco NikeCourt collector
BAGEL: Where does Cactus Court sit in the history of Nike’s most important tennis collections?
AM: I believe we are still in the early stages of a new chapter for Nike Tennis, thanks to this collaboration and the collection’s debut during the US Open. We previously saw the surprising Mac Attack, which marked the first link between Travis Scott and tennis, but now we have something much more substantial: a comprehensive collection and, crucially, an athlete like Carlos Alcaraz serving as its ambassador both on and off the court. This points towards an ongoing and increasingly solid partnership.
BAGEL: Will this collaboration get a generation interested in tennis style before it falls in love with the sport itself?
AM: I certainly think so. It grabs attention through its design and colours. It’s clear that we’ll see pieces from this collection worn in everyday life and embraced for their fashionable appeal, rather than just for playing the sport or visiting tennis venues. The clear aesthetic link to the 1990s Challenge Court collections worn by Andre Agassi will likely encourage enthusiasts to dive into the archives.
BAGEL: What’s your favourite piece?
AM: The jacket is a must-have for me. I already own both colourways from 1992 and 1993, so this one will be the perfect addition. I also really like both pairs of shorts. The black pair is totally unconventional, with its upside-down logos maintaining the reversed aesthetic seen in past Travis Scott collaborations. The blue pair is more classic, faithfully echoing the design cues of the Challenge Court line.
Cactus Jack x NikeCourt collection available globally