Tennis fashion has dramatically evolved, from Naomi Osaka’s stylish outfits to Coco Gauff’s signature braids. This transformation began with rebellious acts like May Sutton’s rolled-up sleeves in 1905 and Suzanne Lenglen’s daring short-sleeved top in 1919. Jean René Lacoste further modernized the sport with his iconic sleeveless shirt in 1929. Recently, Frances Tiafoe’s unconventional attire at Indian Wells sparked controversy after his unexpected loss, with former star Steve Johnson suggesting it contributed to his defeat. Now, did it?

The energy was electric for the American Frances Tiafoe on Sunday night in the California desert. Fresh off a high-profile “Lululemon” activation, Tiafoe lightheartedly joked before the match about forgetting his rackets. This playful moment set the stage for what many expected to be a straightforward victory for the rising tennis star. However, standing across the net was Japan’s 349th seed, Yosuke Watanuki, who had different plans.

In a career-defining performance, the Japanese stunned Tiafoe in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(6), firing an impressive 47 winners, 16 aces, and fending off four break points. As Watanuki celebrated a significant win, Tiafoe’s unexpected loss sparked a different debate: his controversial on-court outfit: the Striped Mesh Tennis Short Sleeve and the Striped Mesh Tennis Short 7” Linerless, both in starch blue, a custom arm sleeve in lavender and white and his signature headband.

In a recent episode of the “Nothing Major Podcast,” entitled “Indian Wells Upsets, Novak’s Slump & Gossip Corner” (EP 42), hosts Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, John Isner, and Steve Johnson commented on the outfit of their compatriot, Frances Tiafoe. “He’s got to cut the sleeves off dude, he’s not playing so good with sleeves on. He’s lost all his powers when he wears like shirts with sleeves like he needs to go cut off. He’s got to let the arms free. I think that’s an issue for him,” said.

He also suggests to re-plan his entire attire quoting, “He’s got to talk to Lulu about this and get some like just tank tops out there to play and the guy’s guns are.. he’s got to, you got to let him go out there with a with a tank top and let him play. No more sleeves on Frances’s shirt.” 

After Frances Tiafoe played his first match in Lululemon apparel at the Australian Open in January, he told Forbes it “felt like a new beginning.” That new beginning had an oversized presence in Indian Wells, one Tiafoe called “dope,” with a range of larger-than-life activations the Vancouver-based brand put behind the new partnership.

The brand set up large-scale installations steps from the tournament grounds featuring ginormous tennis props embedded in the sand and even an oversized vending machine near the tournament entrance dispensing limited-edition Big Foe headbands to any fan who had a Lululemon membership. To further promote Tiafoe, Lululemon featured him on billboards along Interstate 10, ran airport advertisements in Palm Springs, and completely redesigned their Palm Desert store to highlight tennis. Naturally, Big Foe’s excitement went through the roof.

“I’m really excited to wear Lululemon on the court. I got to give a lot of input into my look which feels very me and shows off my style. Working with a brand that’s newer in the tennis world is really cool because they care about both performance and style,” he said ahead of the Indian Wells. 

Well, as the American faces yet another early exit this year, Frances Tiafoe finds comfort in the company of his beloved Anna Broomfield, who stands by his side, offering solace.

Big Foe finding solace at the side of Ayan Broomfield after the early exit from Indian Wells

Frances Tiafoe, seeded 16th at Indian Wells, arrived with high hopes for a strong performance. However, Watanuki, on a remarkable ‘giant-slaying’ run from the qualifiers, delivered a stunning upset. Tiafoe’s frustrating pattern of second-match losses in 2025 persisted, as he remained unable to win consecutive matches this season. After competing in five tournaments, his consistency remained elusive. How did he cope with this ongoing struggle?

Looking to shake off his latest setback, Tiafoe enjoyed a ‘round of golf’ by the poolside of his “luxurious Palm Springs” villa alongside his beloved Ayan Broomfield. He later shared a video of the couple unwinding in the serene morning ambiance.

Broomfield has been a pillar of support for Tiafoe, previously opening up about her unwavering encouragement during his challenging moments as well. “I think for me, I’m blessed to have a tennis background. So when he’s going through things, we don’t just talk about it on the surface level like, ‘You can win next time.’ We’ll actually sit down, work together, and break down what’s going on,” she said once.

Following his early exit from the BNP Paribas Open, Tiafoe has dropped to No. 17 in the ATP rankings. If he hopes to climb back up and add any silverware to his cabinet, he will need to address the inconsistencies in his game and find his rhythm in the upcoming tournaments, especially at the Miami Open later this month.