There was something a little strange about the shoes Tomas Berdych donned at Wimbledon on Friday.
While the world men’s number 15 player met Roger Federer, ranked 5, in the semi-final, eagle-eyed fans couldn’t help but stare at his shoes.
You see, the Czech player had a very familiar face on his green striped Adidas. On the tongue of his shoes sat the face of rival Novak Djokovic, who he played against in the quarter final on Thursday.
Yep, in what is one of the most sponsorship-heavy sports in the world, one of the top international players is wearing his opponent’s shoes.
When asked about it in a press conference afterwards, Berdych simply explained that other shoes don’t fit as well and Djokovic’s were “fitting well and they don’t hurt my feet”.
Which makes sense, really.
Berdych has been wearing Djokovic’s shoes all year – but the fact that he had Djokovic’s face on them this time that made everyone do a double take.
Unfortunately even Djokovics’s, erm, helping foot wasn’t enough to get the Czech player across the line as Federer knocked him out of the tournament with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win.
But at least he still has those trusty shoes.