Roger Federer breaks out new Air Jordan-inspired tennis shoes at U.S. Open

Legends unite - on foot.

Tuesday evening marked the debut of an unprecedented partnership between sporting icons Michael Jordan and Roger Federer, as the 17-time Grand Slam winner won his first-round match at the U.S. Open wearing the NikeCourt Zoom Vapor AJ3 by Jordan, the limited edition fusion of Nike's Zoom Vapor 9.5 and Air Jordan 3 basketball sneaker.

Federer is an admitted basketball fan, who grew up with a poster of His Airness on his bedroom wall. In a teaser video released earlier this week for the innovative tennis shoe, the Swiss star calls Jordan a "hero" of his. 

The Zoom Vapor AJ3 marks the first performance tennis collaboration for NikeCourt, which, according to Nike, "builds on the DNA of Nike Tennis to revive its culture and attitude, celebrating those who blend age-old tennis tradition with confidence and ardor."

The Fed's new kicks feature the Jumpman logo, embossed elephant print and white/cement color scheme of 1988's Air Jordan 3, arguably the most storied sneaker in history. 

The six-time NBA champion was a guest in Federer's courtside box on Tuesday night in New York, but apparently lacks the same admiration for tennis that the tournament's No. 2 seed holds for hoops. "I know nothing about tennis," Jordan said.