- ASICS and Novak Djokovic have created the perfect tennis shoes for the world’s best players.
- GEL-RESOLUTION
- ASICS puts comfort and performance above all else.
Walk through Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club In East Melbourne, you are reminded of countless tennis moments that still resonate in its halls to this day. The achievements of Australian icons such as Pat Cash and Ash Barty are immortalized with shrine-like reverence. Many awards and accolades line the hallways as you enter.
Known for its clean grass courts, this historic venue welcomed thousands of tennis fans every year during the 1970s and 1980s. Its relatively small court created an intimate atmosphere that fostered close contact between tournament players and attendees – a marked departure from larger tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon – giving fans a traditional Slam tournament with a uniquely Australian charm.
The evolution of the Australian Open and Kooyong’s timeless appeal
after Australian Open Kooyong moved to Flinders Park in the late 1980s and has grown into one of Australia’s most distinguished clubs, yet its AO legacy lives on. Today, it serves as the perfect backdrop for leading sportswear brand ASICS to announce its latest generation of tennis shoes, GEL-RESOLUTION X, designed and tested by the sport’s most awarded players in history.
“It’s the best tennis shoe I’ve ever played in.”
Novak Djokovic
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“ASICS has a long tradition and history in tennis,” Novak Djokovic told a group of Kooyong media, including DMARGE.
“But of course, it’s one of the most recognizable brands in sports in general, globally. And I’m biased because obviously I’ve worn an ASICS shoe for several years already. But to me, it’s the best tennis shoe I’ve ever played in.”
Essex: a brief history
ASICS began life as a small sportswear company founded by Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe, Japan. In the mid-20th century, the company was founded with the goal of creating high-quality footwear that would promote physical health and well-being in post-war Japan, embodying the company’s slogan Anima Sana In Corpore Sano (which you’ll notice builds the ASICS acronym).
This enduring philosophy has guided the brand’s innovations throughout its 100-year history, particularly in developing performance footwear and apparel that put comfort and stability at the heart of everything ASICS makes and does.
Djokovic continued: “The two most important items a tennis player has are the tennis racket and his shoes.” “So you can’t mess with those two and they’re very difficult to change, and once you feel comfortable with a shoe, you want to stay in that shoe.”
“But I think there’s a great kind of approach and philosophy of ASICs to innovate and always try to be better, even if it’s a small percentage of what they were the year before. And that’s something I respect because I fit into that kind of mentality.”
ASICS UNVEILS GEL-RESOLUTION
Novak Djokovic spoke to a select group of media ahead of his 2025 Australian Open campaign as the most decorated player in history, with 24 Grand Slam titles – equaled only by Australian legend Margaret Court.
Last year, he completed his trophy cabinet by winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris, a title that had eluded him at four previous Games. The victory over his latest rival in the French capital completed a historic clean sweep of all major titles available to the modern tennis player.
A 25th title in Melbourne would cement his claim as the greatest player of all time. Naturally, a player of Djokovic’s caliber demands shoes to match his extraordinary accomplishments.
the Asics Gel Decision X It is a game changer for the modern gamer. Higher ankle support and the brand’s patented DYNALACING technology means this next generation shoe provides a snug fit for the player, enhancing stability and control of explosive lateral movement.
Those who have read some of my shoe reviews before will know that my glass ankles are exhausting. This means that my measure of success revolves around avoiding the physical therapy room after a physical session and ensuring that I can recover effectively to do it again.
It’s nice to keep my feet protected from injury – I feel like this should be the minimum for any shoe entering the market. The most important thing for me is to have the confidence to make that extra dash from the baseline or even run to the net.
This is where ASICS has continued to excel in this area (where perhaps competitors have consistently failed). Shoes that can support my instability and give me the confidence to move even with recurring injury are an instant winner.
“The ASICs technical team, together with the management and all the participants, but especially the technical team, have put a lot of effort with me and my team, to develop the ‘perfect tennis shoe’ customized for me,” Djokovic revealed.
“It took us almost three years to get to the point where we could say, ‘OK, we have this shoe that I’ve been playing in for the last few years.’ It’s hard for me right now to imagine playing in a different shoe.”
Designed for intermediate to competitive players who dominate from the baseline, the all-new ASICS has arrived with a lot of hype. Endorsements from some of the biggest names in tennis – Novak Djokovic, Patrick Mouratoglou and Alex de Minaur, to name a few – have put this next generation of tennis shoes on a pedestal ahead of this year’s Australian Open and I can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to. All this hype.
The perfect tennis shoe for all abilities
Now, before we head to Melbourne, we’ve been invited to complete a self-assessment form of our abilities. We were given three options: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. After spending half a day in my office in Sydney, contemplating my choices, reliving every serve, every putt I attempted the previous year, I settled on a happy medium and chose average.
Stepping onto the legendary Kooyong Courts, where tennis greats like Pat Cash, Lleyton Hewitt, and Billie Jean King once graced the baseline, I quickly questioned my choice. The quality of play around me was nothing short of humbling.
To give us a proper challenge and test the latest innovations in footwear, ASICS brought together not only journalists, but also rising talent from around the world and a handful of its ambassadors. Lorenzo Musetti, Patrick Mouratoglou, Yasmin Paolini and Ons Jabeur were in the audience, hitting forehand winners with ease while I quietly wondered if I could change my rating back to beginner level.
But there was no time for guesswork, and honestly, it didn’t matter when I stepped into the ASICS GEL-RESOLUTION
GEL-RESOLUTION X test in Kooyong
Immediately, the overall comfort of the shoe stood out. You’d expect a premium tennis shoe to be durable, but GEL-RESOLUTION Maybe I’m finally wearing shoes that fit me after all these years. But I was most likely benefiting from the shoe’s improved two-piece midsole and gel cushioning, which made every step feel cushioned yet stable when I attempted a bold return.
Then there’s DYNAWALL™ technology, which feels like a secret weapon for lateral stability. Whether you’re charging along the baseline or planting your foot on the pivot, the shoe responds in a way that feels secure and nimble, effortlessly anticipating your movements.
“I think we’re a product-oriented brand, and our DNA is about craftsmanship,” Rene Zandbergen, senior core merchandising director for performance sports at ASICS EMEA, told me later that day.
“GEL-RESOLUTION , you get the support and stability you need to play in the most effective way.
How ASICS became the shoe of choice for your favorite tennis player
On a practical level, it’s the kind of shoe that not only performs, but subtly encourages you to play better. He makes you feel like you belong on court with the likes of Musetti or Jabeur, even if a forehand says otherwise.
This is because ASICS has spent years working closely with professional tennis players to produce its shoes, asking for honest feedback on what works and what doesn’t to achieve design and comfort.
“It’s weird, we always say in our first conversation or discussion with new players: please be as negative as possible. So, if there’s anything that’s bothering you, or if there’s something that doesn’t feel right, let us know,” Zandbergen continued. .
“We use these ideas as a brand to improve the next model, or even sometimes improve upon the next model, right? And that’s what we always try to do with our shoes.”
Novak Djokovic and the race against time in Paris
One example of this was before last year’s Olympics in Paris. Novak Djokovic has called up ASICS due to an issue with his shoes.
The conditions at Roland Garros in May were unusual – cooler temperatures and higher humidity. This affected the clay, making it softer, and many players, including Novak, were slipping more than usual. Five weeks before Djokovic’s final Olympic appearance, there could have been serious trouble.
“I started working with the ASICS Institute of Sports Science and our customization team to see if we could have an outsole with a more open structure — like a winter tire — that could shed mud better,” Zandbergen said.
“We found one, but the challenge was fitting it to Novak’s shoe. It wasn’t a perfect match, but it fit well enough — about 90-95%. Although I could tell it wasn’t a perfect fit, it was Well enough that no one noticed.
The team rushed the shoes to Paris, delivering them just three days before Novak Djokovic took to the court and attempted to win his first Olympic gold medal. The Serbian tested them, and ASICS didn’t hear anything – until he won gold.
“The next day, I was at the ASICS house in Paris, where Novak stopped. When he came out I said, ‘I want to know. I want to know.’ But the room was packed, so I couldn’t ask him directly about the shoe. He started explaining his path to the gold medal and when He finished that story, we thought that was it until he thanked ASICS for rebuilding the shoe and giving him an additional option. This recognition, knowing that we played a role in his win, was an unforgettable moment for us.
After wrapping up our session in Kooyong, it became clear that Djokovic and I may have slightly different priorities when it comes to tennis shoes. For the most decorated athlete, a shoe that keeps him at the top of his game is invaluable. For me, just staying in the game is more than enough. Fortunately, ASICS was able to create the perfect shoe for both of us.
