Michael Jordan will always be an idiot. Even though he is already 62 years old and prefers to stay out of the spotlight these days, he has proven that he is still very much in touch with the game with his appearances on NBC’s “MJ: Insights to Excellence.”
At the same time, MJ also showed how willing he is to dip his huge fingers into other sports. Although baseball and golf are two of his most well-known passions, Jordan actually attended the 2014 US Open to cheer on fellow Nike athlete and one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Roger Federer.
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However, here’s the caveat to this whole experience: His Airness knew nothing about tennis.
A legendary tennis figure
As much as Jordan is considered the GOAT of basketball, Federer is held in the same regard in his discipline. The Swiss ace was the top-ranked player in the world for 310 weeks and won 103 ATP Tour singles titles, including 20 major men’s singles tournaments. And while Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Jordan are credited with raising the NBA’s profile to new heights in the 1980s and ’90s, Federer, along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, did the same for tennis.
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On that fateful August evening, Jordan finally got to see what all the buzz around Federer was about. Even though he admitted to knowing nothing about tennis, he was nevertheless impressed by what he saw from the Swiss superstar.
“I don’t know anything about tennis” Jordan said. “He’s a good athlete. I know he played a little basketball.”
“I think he looks so smooth. I’ve seen a lot of tennis on TV, but you never really understand how smooth, relaxed and fundamentally sound he can make the game look,” MJ commented about Roger after seeing him defeat Marinko Matosevic from the latter’s home court.
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Collaboration on a tennis shoe
Jordan’s appearance at Federer’s match is a testament to the friendship between the two titans of the sport, which began when they collaborated on the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour AJ3, which debuted at the 2014 US Open.
After the match, Federer beamed with pride at being able to count on someone of Jordan’s stature.
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“It’s just amazing to have Michael here,” Federer relayed. “Growing up, he was my big sports idol. … Having him here is incredibly special, and the collaboration is unique, so I love it.”
With a predominantly white upper and adorned with the Air Jordan 3’s unmistakable elephant print, the shoe pays homage to the heritage of Jordan and Federer. Jordan, who is well aware of the impact a shoe can have on an athlete’s performance, said he was proud of how this collaboration came together.
“I don’t want you to play in a shoe that doesn’t feel right,” Michael told Roger.
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Basketball and tennis are two very different sports, but greatness knows no bounds, and seeing two different sports icons come together was truly inspiring. Federer and Jordan may have taken different paths to achieve sporting glory, but one thing is certain: they shared the same drive and determination to be the best at what they do.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on November 24, 2025, where he first appeared in the Off the field section. Add Basketball Network as Favorite source by clicking here.
