Why you can't buy Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon-winning Nikes

Jannik Sinner's been a Nike man since 2022. At the Wimbledon men's final, that relationship was on full display. On Sinner's feet were the Nike GP Challenge 1.5, a pair of hard court tennis shoes built for the sort of quick, aggressive movement that just helped him win Wimbledon for the second year in a row. There's an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot to add a bit of pop to that first step, another in the heel for support, and a strong plastic plate through the midfoot to keep things nice and stable when moving from side to side. Webbing around the eyestays locks everything in, while extra rubber around the toe is designed to take a proper thrashing.

Basically, it's a very serious tennis shoe for very serious tennis players. And you can buy a pair right now. Just not Sinner's pair.

That's because the Italian pro's GP Challenge 1.5 is what's known as a PE (short for ‘Player Exclusive’, FYI). While it's based on the same silhouette you can pick up from the Swoosh, his version comes in a special white and green colour combo that was made just for him. There's also a custom silver plate on the tongue that nodded to his Wimbledon win last year. And now that he's just gone and won it again, it's an even bigger flex.

And just in case you were wondering, PEs aren't anything new in sport. Brands have been making custom trainers, boots, and basketball shoes for their biggest athletes for years. But when the shoe in question looks this clean and Sinner's just worn it to win his Wimbledon title, it's a little harder not to want it.

This is actually the first time Sinner's won The Championships in the GP Challenge 1.5, too. Last year, he lifted the trophy in its predecessor, the GP Challenge 1. So, as far as winning debuts go, this one's done pretty well.

The bad news is that his PE still isn't up for grabs. The good news? The regular GP Challenge 1.5 is. It won't come in Jannik Sinner's colourway or that silver tongue plate, but the Air Zoom sole, stability tech, and all the other good stuff is there.