Style Points

#tbt: When the Elite 8 missed the memo, and 11 more memorable ATP Finals official portraits

A Top 9 portrait? An unintentional fashion faux pas? If you thought getting players into matching suits and snapping a photo was always a piece of cake, then you don't know tennis.

ByStephanie Livaudais

Published Nov 10, 2022

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With the WTA Finals Fort Worth in the books and the ATP Finals in Turin about to begin, all eyes are glued to social media for one thing: the tournament's 2022 official photo.

Much like the WTA Finals' iconic photo, the men's season-ending championships gathers the top eight singles and doubles teams to pose for a group portrait at one of the host cities most photogenic spots. It's usually a suit-and-tie affair, with this year's luxury outfitter, Giorgio Armani, tapped to dress players in custom suits for Thursday evening's gala.

But if you thought getting eight players into matching outfits and snapping a photo is always a piece of cake, then you don't know tennis.

Sometimes players simply don't understand the assignment, or maybe they just missed the memo. Like Spain's David Ferrer at the 2010 ATP Finals, who stood out from the pack by donning a light gray suit:

Standing in front of London's most recognizable doorway, the 2010 group photo gathered the likes of Robin Soderling, Andy Murray and more to 10 Downing Street.

They met with British Prime Minister David Cameron afterward—but it's Ferrer who stands out the most in his contrasting outfit.

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Or in 2018, when the ATP's elite eight took to the Houses of Parliament for this stylish photo—and Alexander Zverev (far right) turned up sans socks. Fashion faux pas, or fashion statement?

The players famously rode the Tube on their way to the gala.

Despite the ATP Finals group photos tending to lean toward uniformity, over the years players have found way to set themselves apart.

In 2004, when the event was hosted in Houston, Texas, one top-ranked American bucked the norm by opting for the comfort of an American staple:

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The uniform was a black suit, white shirt and striped tie—but Andy Roddick opted for casual Converse instead of dress shoes.

Wait, do I count nine players in this photo instead of the usual eight?

That's not because someone snuck into the official portrait. In earlier editions of the ATP Finals—then called the Tennis Masters Cup—it was customary to include the first alternate into the photo along with the Top 8. Guillermo Cañas (far left) was the alternate in Houston that year, and did not play.

The Top 9 donned traditional Tang suit jackets to welcome the tour's first stint in Shanghai in 2002. Alternate Thomas Johansson (fourth from right) would later replace Andre Agassi (far left) in the draw due to injury.

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By the time the event returned to Shanghai for a three-year run in 2005, the official photo consisted of just the top eight players.

While we await the official 2022 Turin high resolution photos to come in—and of course, the outfits—scroll through some of the most memorable ATP Finals photos in recent years…

In 2009, the first ATP Finals in London kicked off with a sharp official photo that put Federer and Nadal front and center.

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The tour's stint in London produced quite a few moody nighttime group photos, like this one in 2011 in front of the Battersea Power Station.

Players seem to almost fade into the London night in this 2016 group photo. (That's the historic sailing ship Cutty Sark in the background.)

The 2019 edition kept things casual, players posing in front of The O2 in training gear and sneakers with a racquet in hand.

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Face masks? Social distance? Empty stands? Check, check and check. The 2020 group photo commemorated a year unlike any other.

As the ATP Finals stepped into a new era with a move to Turin in 2021, at least one thing stayed the same: Andrey Rublev (left) apparently missed the 'business casual' memo and turned up to the official photo in ripped and distressed jeans.

Never change, guys.

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