Roger Federer responds to reported Nike split, Uniqlo deal

ONE of the biggest stars in world sport is up for grabs.

Roger Federer has confirmed that his contract with Nike came to an end in March, but reports of a done deal with Japanese company Uniqlo were premature.

“It’s rumours... but I don’t have a contract with Nike since March,” Federer said at the Stuttgart Open.

“We’re talking. We’ll see what happens. I’ll let you know.”

Swiss paper Le Matin suggest the star’s negotiations with Nike stalled, while journalist Vincenzo Martucci reported for Italian website sportssenators.it, that Uniqlo were ready to pay Federer $USD 30m a year over the next 10 years.

Federer has been with Nike since 1994, but could partner with Uniqlo, who lost Novak Djokovic to Lacoste in 2017.

The 36-year-old hasn’t played since March, and has the chance to reclaim his No.1 spot if he reaches the final in Stuttgart.

“I’m back again and I’ll give my best to go deeper this year,” Federer, who lost to Tommy Haas in his first match of the tournament last year,” told reporters.

“We will see how it goes in the first match. It’ll be my first match in three months, so I’m missing some match practice. I think the grass is better than in the past years. Let’s hope for some better weather.”