Which tennis player is the namesake of a classic Adidas sneaker?

The classic Adidas sneaker named for a tennis player is the Stan Smith.

The Adidas Stan Smith began as a tennis shoe called the Adidas Robert Haillet, honoring the French professional who endorsed it. When Haillet retired, Adidas sought a new player associated with the model. The shoe was renamed for American tennis champion Stan Smith in 1978.

Smith had won major titles, including the 1971 US Open and the 1972 Wimbledon singles championship. His association gave the shoe a recognizable athlete’s name, but the design remained notably simple: a mostly white leather upper, perforated side stripes instead of the brand’s usual solid stripes, and a low-profile rubber sole.

The other options are also important names in tennis or Adidas history, which makes them plausible distractors. Rod Laver and Björn Borg were major tennis champions, while John McEnroe was a prominent Adidas-sponsored player. None, however, is the namesake of this particular sneaker. Although originally made for tennis, the Stan Smith became especially influential as a casual fashion sneaker.