SANTIAGO, Chile – Alejandro Tabilo is putting together a solid start to the season: strong tennis, wins and a rise in the rankings. And he is doing so showcasing all the style and elegance of Ellesse, his new sponsor.
Two milestones are shaping his career — and they coincide in time, in this February 2026. At the ATP 500 in Rio, he played the most important final of his career, and he unveiled, together with Ellesse, his personalised clothing line.
The Italian brand has given the world No. 42 a fresh look, tailored to him. Tabilo was directly involved in the design and creation of his outfits: unique pieces aimed at setting him apart on tour.
“I felt that with my previous brand we were dressed the same as other players. I was tired of that. With the Ellesse team we talked about the colours, about whether I wanted the clothes more fitted. I’m happy with the kit we put together and with how well it suits me,” Tabilo said in conversation with the Instagram account Idioma Tenis.
On the professional circuit, it is common to see two players competing in identical outfits. That dilutes identity and, at times, even confuses viewers.
Against that impersonal trend, Ellesse stands for individuality. And it is backing Tabilo — the first Chilean tennis player to represent the historic brand — to send a different message: a unique stamp with quality and style.
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“Ellesse has a deep history in tennis, and returning to the tour alongside Chile’s No. 1 is very meaningful. Alejandro is at a turning point in his career, and we wanted his image to reflect exactly that: maturity, character and a distinctive identity,” Javiera Espejo, head of marketing at Ellesse Chile, told CLAY.
The brand outfits the three-time ATP champion with high-performance apparel. A collection inspired by classic lines, incorporating technical fabrics, lightness and maximum mobility in competition.
“This collection is not just matchwear; it is the visual expression of his evolution on and off the court,” Espejo added.
The new collaboration comes at a special moment. At 28, Tabilo is seeking a fresh push to return to his best level — the one that took him to world No. 19. His performance in Brazil confirms that this renewed momentum is already under way.
Ellesse in tennis: champions, style and memory
Wearing Ellesse on today’s tour means continuing a story that has linked tennis and fashion for five decades.
Guillermo Vilas, left-hander like Tabilo, was the brand’s first great male reference. His tight shirts, unbuttoned to reveal his chest, very short shorts and colourful headbands created a recognisable aesthetic that defined an era.
“When I played against Joao Fonseca in Buenos Aires, before the match started a fan shouted at me: ‘Come on, Tabilo, you’re wearing Vilas’s Ellesse, give it everything!’ It’s nice to have all that history behind you, with such an old and traditional brand, with so many top players,” Tabilo said in Rio de Janeiro to Idioma Tenis.
In January 1980, when Chris Evert signed with Ellesse, tennis began to dress differently. At the peak of her career — she won seven Grand Slams in that apparel — the North American embodied a sober, competitive elegance: Italian design with real on-court functionality. Over more than fifteen years of partnership, she helped define what became known as the “Golden Age” of tennis fashion, when style was, more than ever, an essential part of the game.
In 1985, Boris Becker became the youngest men’s champion in Wimbledon history at 17. On Centre Court he lifted the trophy wearing a light blue jacket with dark blue sleeves, at a time when the All England Club’s all-white code was not as strict as it is today.
In the early 1990s, a very young Anna Kournikova left memorable images with vibrant Ellesse bandanas and windbreakers — a look as nineties as it was magnetic, where bold design was as prominent as her presence on court.
In the modern era, Tommy Haas, Feliciano López and Elina Svitolina have been among the players representing the brand.
In 2026, alongside Tabilo, Ellesse also signed Croatian Donna Vekic, silver medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“It’s incredible that Ellesse is coming back to the tour,” Tabilo said.
The return to the circuit aligns with the identity of the brand founded in 1959 by Leonardo Servadio. Even its logo — half a tennis ball and the tip of a ski — reflects that sporting heritage blending tradition and design. And for Tabilo, being part of that legacy is not just an aesthetic choice: it means stepping onto the court with history behind him and with a personal stamp that sets him apart.
