Roger Federer: muted clothes, muted game

Roger Federer continues the Sisyphusian task of winning a title in 2008 at the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal. He’s off to a good start; R-Fed took out Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.

This is the week I see him in human form. He’s finally with a coach again (training with Spanish legend Jose Higueras), he has a ginormous embedded pimple on his cheek, and his Nike clothes — while retro — are looking pretty plain.

 

Buy: The Nike Summer Sphere React Cool Polo (in Blue Chill), $65; doublewide pinstripe wristband, $10.

And at last week’s Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Federer bowed out to Andy Roddick in the quarters with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 3-6 loss. He wore a white/black ringer polo as part of an uber-striped ensemble.

 

All in the deets: the 9-inch Control shorts have pinstripes and a contrast-colored elastic back waist. And the mass-market version of Roger’s Sphere Polo has some subtle stripes and “Paris 2008″ embroidered on the back neck.

Buy: Shorts in Black/Blue Chill, $45; Polo in White/Obsidian Navy, $65.

(Estoril photos by AFP/Francisco Leong)