Look of the Week: Rublev, Djokovic & Rybakina's gold-tinted glasses start a trend in Indian Wells

When Andrey Rublev touched down in Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open, he had all eyes on him after his controversial default in Dubai.

But whether he was issuing a public apology or announcing the launch of his own foundation, Rublev’s own eyes were well protected thanks to some uniquely colorful glasses from Ra Optics. And he may have just started the hottest trend in tennis in the process, with several players following suit and rocking their own gold-tinted lenses during the tournament.

It’s not the first time Rublev’s eyewear has caught the attention of the tennis world—in fact, it’s fast becoming his signature look in 2024. The Russian turned heads during the Australian Open last month, when he wore clear framed glasses with bright red lenses during interviews and in behind-the-scenes moments inside Rod Laver Arena.

The eye-catching glasses sparked quite a few comparisons to famous Hollywood actors and performers, including Elton John, Robert Downey Jr. and U2’s Bono, who have all been photographed in their own tinted glasses over the years—whether it be due to issues with light sensitivity, glaucoma (Bono) or just simply for fashion.

The We Are Tennis account was even getting John Lennon vibes from the look, posting a side-by-side with Rublev and the late Beatle.

Rublev’s distinctive red-orange glasses aren't just tinted for fun or for fashion. They are Ra Optic’s “blue-light blocking lenses”, which are supposed to filter out harmful blue light from television and mobile phone screens that can affect the body’s sleep cycle.

According to the brand’s site, their red “sunset” lenses can block out 100 percent of blue light, which “allows the body to naturally relax and get ready for bed.” That’s why they are meant to be worn in the evening after daylight hours—although Rublev has been rocking the Clyde Sunset glasses at all hours during tennis tournaments.

Rublev has been spotted in several of the brand’s glasses and frames, including in their gold-hued “daytime” lenses. These are made to be worn throughout the day to “block harmful blue light from fluorescent bulbs, LED’s, and screens” as they filter out 95 percent of blue light.

Some of the reported benefits include less “eye strain” and fewer headaches, as well as boosted energy and elevated mood. It’s also important to note that while they are made for wearing in the day, there’s no mention of UV protection in the lenses meaning they shouldn’t be worn outdoors for sun protection.

Rublev wore the brand’s Popp Daylight glasses during Media Day at Indian Wells, including during his visit to the Tennis Channel studio, and the Maxwell Sunset glasses during a later interview. His verdict?

“Everything is orange… Everything is the same color now,” a skeptical Rublev told Bolshe’s Sofya Tartakova. “It’s not (a happy color), everything is just the same orange color.”

The scientific data may just agree with Rublev, too. Last year, a review of 17 studies actually revealed that there was little evidence that showed blue light blocking lenses had any effect at all on the eyes. In fact, the Mayo Clinic said “no significant improvement in vision performance or sleep quality has been found from using blue-blocking lenses.”

But much like when the Ra Optics trend swept through Manchester City via Erling Haaland last year, the lack of real evidence hasn’t stopped tennis players from following Rublev into gold-tinted dreamland. That’s because, benefits or no benefits, it’s still a stylish look—and it’s very on-the-pulse too, with fashion watchers pointing to tinted sunglasses as one of this year’s biggest fashion trends.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic showed off his own pair of what appeared to be the brand’s Clyde Daylight glasses during a pre-tournament to watch the Denver Nuggets take on the LA Lakers.

Defending champion Elena Rybakina was also one of several players spotted in a Ra Optics style. The world No. 4 rocked a pair of Dispenza Daylight glasses during Media Day in Indian Wells, where she fielded questions from the media and filmed a variety of video promos.

Unfortunately for Rybakina, even the special lenses weren’t enough to keep her going in Indian Wells as she had to bow out of the competition citing gastrointestinal illness shortly afterward.

Ra Optics was launched in 2017 by Matt Maruca, who began to research a way to treat frequent headaches, low energy and other various health issues during his youth. After discovering blue light and its effects on the body’s circadian rhythm, Maruca made it his mission to create glasses and lenses that were both effective and stylish. His customer base now includes stars from the EPL, NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA, and of course, tennis players.

"With jet lag, when we're crossing time zones our rhythm gets thrown off because the sun is coming up in Japan at a completely different time in Manchester," Maruca told *Manchester Evening News* last year. "Their (profesional athletes) body's rhythm has to adjust so their hormones aren't producing melatonin in the middle of the day when they have to be on the pitch performing…

"With the glasses, you can fall asleep really quickly after all that travel and then wake up earlier, feel fresher, and adjust to your new timezone much faster than someone who has been affected by all this disruptive light."

If even some of the benefits are true then its no surprise why tennis players like Rublev, Rybakina, Djokovic and more are flocking to them. But while the jury may still be out on blue light blocking glasses, at worst it's a harmless fashion statement that's generating a bit of buzz.