Stan Smith: from Grand Slam champion to fashion icon

Many people will know Stan Smith as the man behind the iconic adidas Stan Smith shoe, which is not surprising given there have been more than 100 million pairs sold and collaborations with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Stella McCartney. But Smith is also known for his legendary tennis career – among his seven Grand Slam titles were two singles majors (Wimbledon and the US Open) and he rose to world No.1 in the early 1970s. He was also a part of seven triumphant US Davis Cup teams, many times battling it out with a golden generation of Australian legends in one of the sport's most enduring rivalries. The American star was one of the original players to use tennis as a platform for other great achievements — he campaigned against apartheid, set up his own academy, developed Stan Smith events and even became an author. He’s also a former president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tennis is the thread throughout Smith's lifetime, and as you will hear in this interview, the sport is all the richer for having him in it. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify Host handles: @Viv_Christie @MattyAT See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.