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Let’s be real for a second: Hugo Ekitike would 100 per cent prefer to be somewhere else. That place is in America, tearing up defences with Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué for Les Bleus. But a season-ending achilles injury back in April tore up that dream.
“Obviously I'm in touch with them but not a lot because they're busy playing and I'm busy with my recovery,” he tells me a couple of hours before making his debut at an altogether different sporting arena. “I wish I was there, but that's life. I am where I am, and sometimes everybody has to deal with stuff. That's my challenge and I accepted it so I’m happy for them and I hope they're going to reach the final, win it, and bring the cup back to France.”
Seeing as he can’t be at the World Cup doing Erling Haaland-type things for France, he may as well enjoy himself. And where better to spend a summer’s day than at Wimbledon?
“It's my first official game to go watch and have good [Centre Court] seats and everything,” he says. “Honestly, it's not something I've shown a lot but I really like tennis. It's the kind of sport like boxing where it's very individual. And I like the fact that you have to deal with pressure for three, four, five hours in a game.” Which is just as well, as he’ll be there to see Sinner vs Djokovic go up against one another again. “It's going to be intense, but I'm glad to be here,” he adds.
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If you know anything about Ekitike, you’ll appreciate he likes to lean into his style game. You don’t end up on the front row of a Balenciaga show next to Anna Wintour otherwise. It’s why Wimbledon’s vibe – and the challenge of its dress code – appeals so much to him. “I like the fact that I have to dress in a different way,” he says. “I'm going to wear something that people haven’t seen from me because lately I've been more in streetwear. I can't wait to show what I'm going to do.”
A full white Dolce & Gabbana suit with a mean peak lapel collar, a good Majolica print tie and red ostrich leather loafers is what he’s gone and done. “Ties give old school, successful, serious businessman and that's the vibe I like,” he says. That's all very well, but can he tie his own?
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“If it was me, it’s going to take a hundred times,” he admits, laughing. “But my brother is someone that wears suits so he did it for me. He's the businessman of the family.”
“When I think of Wimbledon, I think of David Beckham," he goes on. “In terms of wearing a suit, he's an icon. He's the one setting the standards so it's something to follow.” Clearly when it comes to fashion, the 24-year-old is happy to ignore club and country rivalries. “Accessories are part of your outfit, they are what gives the last touch,” he adds. “Obviously the clothes are important, but all that stuff that goes around the outfit that you wear, the earrings, the ring, the brooch, the watch – they add a little thing.”
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The ‘little thing’ he's referring to is a major hot pink Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 Beach Edition, on a bright pink rubber strap – Hugo Ekitike's way of saying ‘I see all your pink boots at the World Cup, and raise you.’ That's backed up with an even punchier flash of pink – a vintage floral brooch, which comes from a Chopard collection inspired by, wait for it, Disney princesses. Your move, Becks.
Photography by Gerardo Jaconelli