The GOAT meaning behind Novak Djokovic’s custom Lacoste ‘Grand Slam’ jacket

IT’S EARLY ON in the US Open, and Novak Djokovic has made the first court-style serve.

Before his first match even began on Sunday against USA’s Learner Tien, the American knew he didn’t stand a chance against the Serbian, style-wise. Stepping out of the tunnel at Arthur Ashe, the world number seven debuted a custom white jacket featuring four tennis balls mapping out Melbourne, Paris, London, and New York, with the words “Grand Slam Tournaments” stitched on. It was a cold jacket to pull up on the 19-year-old American – a GOATed jacket for the GOAT.

Removing it for the evening match, Djokovic’s kit consisted of an all black set by the French label (to which he’s been an ambassador since 2017). Gold accents stretched from his polo collar down to the Asics logo on his black Court FF 3s (the shoe is dedicated to him, which you can buy here). His sneakers by the Japanese label were also in the mood for symbolism: “24” was printed on the heel, counting the number of singles Grand Slam titles he holds.

The symbolism behind Novak Djokovic’s custom Lacoste jacket at the US Open

“For Novak, it had to be a one-of-a-kind piece,” said Lacoste creative director Pelagia Kolotouros in a statement. “It’s where a sense of elegance and a sense of rebellion really come together in one garment. The jacket is really a statement of Novak’s ability to be the GOAT.”

The design itself is unprecedented. Kolotouros used laser-cut pieces of leather, then stacked them to create a map of the world in bas relief. Each of the four Grand Slam cities is marked with tennis balls the colour of their courts. Azure blue for the Australian Open. Orange clay for Roland Garros. Green for Wimbledon. Dark blue for the US Open. Varied in texture, too, to symbolise each of the courts’ material, Wimbledon’s ball is made of fuzzy thread, while the grainy clay texture of the French Open was painted on.

The bold statement piece probably wouldn’t have flown well at Wimbledon, for instance, despite their all white dress code, yet equally upheld knack for self-effacement. As Djokovic arrives in Flushing, vying for his first major title since winning his fourth US Open in 2023, America is the place for big swings – so his sponsors came in clutch. This was only day one, but this jacket will be one to remember for years to come. To everyone else, the ball’s in your court.