The OG Sergio Tacchini Is Returning To Center Court

In 1966, an Italian pro tennis player, Sergio Tacchini, founded his eponymous athletic clothing label. Tired of white tennis kit, Tacchini worked with bold color blocking and stripes, which have become synonymous with the brand. In 1972, Ilie Nastăse, the future Hall of Fame player, signed with Tacchini and soon after came John McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis, Tracy Austin, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors in the '80s and greats like Pete Sampras, Martina Hingis, and Novak Djokovic in '90s.

In the early '80s, street culture, picking up on the tennis freshness, was close behind sporting Sergio tracksuit hookups from Hollis, Queens, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, on through Manhattan. From LL Cool J and Notorious BIG to today's artists like Lil Wayne and Migos, rappers are quietly bringing the Sergio Tacchini flavor back into center court.

(Showcase Image: LL COOL J, circa 1980. Credit: PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images)

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