“If you’re not wearing the right thing, it can be detrimental,” says number two seed Venus Williams of on-court fashion. “If you aren’t looking your best, you surely won’t play your best.” Well that explains why little sister Serena has the top spot in women’s tennis. She is arguably the trendiest player on the circuit, sporting a black, leather-look catsuit at the 2002 US Open.
LADIES FIRST
These days all eyes are on the women’s tennis stars who are looking fit in more ways than one. Anna Kournikova, often named as one of the sexiest players in the world, is a frequent cover girl and looks great on the arm of sexy beau, Enrique Iglesias. While Eastern European player Daniela Hantuchova has recently been dubbed the “Legs From Slovakia”, for her stunning 44-inch pins, showcased in colourful shorts and tennis skirts.
The show biz aspects of the sport aren’t lost on today’s up and comers. “We are a spectator sport,” says Australian player Rochelle Rosenfeld, who names Anna as one star who has particularly “glamourised” the game. “If people come to the tennis just to watch us and we get a bigger crowd, I think it's great. People go to the movies just to look at Julia Roberts most of the time. The girls go to watch Brad Pitt for the same reason.”
CHANGING FASHION
Though Serena’s on-court curves have been drawing as much attention as J Lo’s of late, 80 years ago Nice-born Suzanne Lenglen earned the nickname “the French hussy” in Britain when she played in an ankle-revealing dress without a corset, and “Gorgeous Gussie” Moran’s lace-trimmed designer underwear caused a ruckus in 1949.
It was the disco Seventies which brought the first generation of flashy fashion to the court, with Billie Jean King playing in sequins when she beat Bobbie Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of The Sexes”. And six years later 18-year-old Linda Siegel made Wimbledon history when she unceremoniously popped out of her backless, braless spaghetti-strap dress mid-match. “I didn’t realise it was so revealing,” she said later. But at least the peek-a-boo frock was plain white, as the rules of the venerable tournament require.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS
Though it is the ladies who are drawing attention on court, the credit – or the blame in the eyes of more conservative tennis watchers – for the fashion-conscious trend goes to a man. The trail-blazer in question is Andre Agassi, who in 1988 showed up at the US Open sporting his famous blond-streaked mullet, designer chin-stubble and a then-controversial pair of acid-washed denim shorts.
In the new millennium, guys have taken to wearing baseball caps backwards and sporting trendy shades and stylish shirts which look at home both on and off court. But could there be a battle of the sexes brewing in the name of sartorial liberation? Number three men’s seed Tommy Hass had his fashion hopes dashed in 2002 when US Open officials told him his sleeveless white muscle shirt was against court policy. He changed into a regulation top, but did protest: “I asked them what is appropriate… when you see Serena and some of those ladies wearing all this stuff.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
