“The AO is something that connects really well with New Balance because the mix of sport and culture they have is incredible,” Evan Zeder, New Balance director of global sports marketing for tennis, tells me. “I think the AO is a perfect mix and it is just a big party.”

From the court to the curb, New Balance’s T500 has been a footwear classic ever since it was first introduced back in 1982. Originally designed with an eye for on-court

Australian Open is showcasing a crop of young men's players who are better equipped for the changes in tennis than their elders.