Sponsorship · Apparel and shoes

Nike junior tennis sponsorship

No. Nike's help center says it proactively seeks athletes and does not accept unsolicited sponsorship requests. Nike has signed many future stars as juniors, but only after strong results at the top junior events. There is no Nike junior application or discount program.

By Dave Lobell · Checked October 18, 2026

Can a junior apply?

No. Nike does not accept unsolicited sponsorship requests.

Nike junior programs

Nike athlete sponsorship (invitation only)

Athletes Nike chooses Global; same help article appears on multiple country sites (e.g. Bulgaria, Philippines)

Who qualifies

Not published by Nike.

What the player gets

Not published by Nike.

What the brand expects

Not published by Nike.

How to apply

No application. Nike Help: 'We proactively seek athletes to wear the Swoosh and represent Nike on and off the field of play... we don't accept unsolicited sponsorship requests.' Company Info & Inquiries line 1-800-806-6453 (7am-4pm PT, Mon-Fri). [1]

Open the Nike page

How to approach Nike, step by step

Do not send Nike a proposal. Nike says it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Focus on results at the events where brands and agents watch: national championships, the Orange Bowl, ITF junior events.
Keep rankings and profiles (USTA, TennisRecruiting.net, UTR, ITF) up to date. That is what scouts check.
Want gear support now? Apply to a brand that takes applications, such as HEAD, Babolat, Solinco or Diadem.

How Nike finds and signs juniors

Nike states it proactively seeks out the athletes it sponsors rather than taking requests. [1]
Nike has backed the junior game through federations: from January 2014 Nike became an official partner of British tennis and took title sponsorship of leading LTA junior tournaments (the Nike Junior Tour). This is a 2014 arrangement; current status not confirmed. [6]

Juniors and young players with Nike

Player	What happened
Carlos Alcaraz	Wore Lotto clothing and shoes until age 16, then signed his first big endorsement contract with Nike in 2019. [3]
Coco Gauff	Tennis365 reports she 'was handed a Nike sponsorship when she was just 10 years old' (she later signed with New Balance at 14 in 2018). [4]
Iga Swiatek	Was sponsored by Nike during her run to the junior Wimbledon title in 2018; ASICS announced her in January 2020. [4]
Emma Raducanu	Sponsored by Nike 'since she was a teenager'; left Nike for Uniqlo in 2026. [4]
Frances Tiafoe	Switched from adidas to Nike in 2017 while still a teenager. [4]
Brendan Evans	ATP bio: in 2001 he turned professional and signed an endorsement deal with Nike. [5]

These players were already among the best in the world for their age. They show how the top deals happen, not what a typical junior can expect.

Other ways to get Nike gear support

School/club teams can buy Nike team uniform styles (e.g. Nike Team Victory Top) through retailers such as Tennis Warehouse, which offers customization, samples, quotes and school/league discount pages. [7]

What to watch out for

Many third-party 'how to get sponsored by Nike' guides describe ambassador perks; Nike's own help page says unsolicited requests are not accepted. [1]

New to sponsorship? Start with the full guide to junior tennis sponsorship: how to build a player profile, write a one-page proposal and follow up.

Nike sponsorship questions parents ask

Can my child apply for a Nike tennis sponsorship?

No. Nike's help center says it does not accept unsolicited sponsorship requests and seeks out athletes itself.

How young has Nike signed tennis players?

Press reports say Coco Gauff had Nike sponsorship at 10, and Carlos Alcaraz signed his first big Nike deal at 16 in 2019.

Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Programs, forms and criteria change. Check the brand's own page before you apply.

Other brands

Brand	Can a junior apply?
adidas	Not for full sponsorship. US juniors who meet a ranking rule can join adiplayer (30% off).
Wilson (incl. Luxilon, Select Team, W-Team)	Yes, for the Wilson + Luxilon Select Team (discounted gear, not free gear).
HEAD	Yes. Team HEAD USA takes US juniors 18 and under with an official ranking. HEAD Australia has its own form.
Babolat	Yes. Send a request through the Babolat sponsorship form.
Yonex	US juniors only, through an online form. The form is closed for 2026; Yonex says to reach out in January 2027.
Solinco	Yes. US juniors use an online form (typically 3 stars and up); international players email a PDF form.
Dunlop	Yes. Team Dunlop has an "Apply Now" contact form. No criteria are published.
Diadem	Yes. The Diadem Dynasty Team is open to players of all levels (gear at a discounted or free price point).
Lacoste	No individual application. Junior routes are Les Petits As, Petits Crocos and the free Lacoste Junior Tennis Academy in New York.
New Balance	Not published. New Balance has no public junior application.
FILA	No individual application. FILA works through academies (JTCC) and junior events.
K-Swiss	Yes, from age 14: the Team K-Swiss ambassador program (UK site). No US version found.
On	Not published. On has no public junior application.

What to do next

Track Tournament deadlines Track the events you plan to play and get a reminder before entry closes. College College fit + gap Which divisions fit your player now, and the gap to each target. Track Progress tracker Log ratings over time and see the trend against college targets.