Andre Agassi has long been known for his exceptional tennis skills and high fashion sense. He introduced numerous iconic on-court looks, such as denim shorts and a mullet in the 1990s.
At just 18 years old in 1988, the American tennis star formed a partnership with Nike, which resulted in many stylish tennis sneakers. These shoes not only looked good but also represented significant moments in the 8-time Grand Slam champion’s life. Agassi recently shared photos on Instagram of his Nike Air Trainer 1 shoes, which he wore at the beginning of his career.
Another pair of shoes Agassi showcased on Instagram were the black and teal Nike Air Challenge LWPs he wore in the 1995 US Open. At that time, he transitioned from his famous long locks to a shaved head. The stylish sneakers featured lightweight performance (LWP) cushioning, later known as ‘Zoom.’
These nostalgic posts also served as a teaser for the upcoming relaunch of the Nike Air Tech Challenge II ‘Hot Lava’ shoes. Nike announced plans to relaunch Agassi’s well-known ‘Hot Lava’ shoes in October 2023, with a scheduled release in the fall of 2024. In anticipation of the relaunch, Agassi wore the eye-catching, neon splatter-printed sneakers during the 2024 Pickleball Slam 2 in February. He and his wife, 22-time Grand Slam winner Steffi Graf, teamed up against John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova, securing $1 million in prizes.
Agassi later shared additional photos of the original ‘Hot Lava’ sneakers on Instagram. Interestingly, Nike also produced a version with a black splatter design, which basketball legend Michael Jordan wore.
Although Agassi left Nike in 2005 after 17 years and joined Adidas, he returned to the brand in 2013.
