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Last Updated: 12/19/2007

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City: BROOKLYN
State: New York
Country: US

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Thursday, August 23, 2007 

More Maria: Here is the second Nike dress Maria "Shriek"apova will be sporting over the next 2 weeks at the US Open. Seems like Nike is continuing with their classic black + white moment of late.

We definitely like this one better - the detailing at the neckline is a nice touch. We presume she'll wear this color in the day, leaving the shocking red number for after hours, or her night match.

2:01 AM 
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 

Here are some first looks at Maria "Shriek"apova's latest Grand Slam dress, courtesy of Nike. The defending champion at this year's US Open, Maria wants to make sure she's noticed. We don't think that's going to be a problem this year...

This dress is one of 2 she will be wearing.
1:58 AM 
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 

We have been very vocal about our dislike for adidas and the "color-by-numbers" tennis gear for their players this season. Here's something we can get into: Nike's black + white moment. While we do appreciate some color on the court, we'll take this classic look any day. This style sets the stage for the tours' lead-up to the bright lights, big city feel of New York and the US Open.


Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova, and James Blake look chic and sophisticated in their stylish tennis fashion.


What's wrong with a little minimalism people? TELL US what you think...

7:32 AM 
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 

Breaking news: French sportswear label Le Coq Sportif is relaunching in the US. Under new ownership the label, famous for its iconic rooster logo and retro European tennis styles, will carry a small distribution in the States and focus primarily on fashion and sport (mostly tennis, of course.)

Tim McCool, CEO of Le Coq Sporitf, said "[...] who remembered us in the U.S.? We think they are 25- to 30-year-olds who play tennis. And who knows us in the U.S.? That's 20- to 30-year-olds who travel and know us from abroad. Together these higher income young men and women make up the pillar of our target in the U.S. market."

Here is a peak at the Twenties-inspired tennis dress from their latest collection.

For more on their tennis gear, check out Tennis Served Fresh.

7:31 AM 
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 


A-Rod still believes: With Novak Djokovic's extraordinary win and performance at last week's Rogers Cup, Andy Roddick was definitively bumped to No. 4 in the world. However, A-Rod believes the hardcourts of the US, where he's had his best results, will reward his big game. "I still feel like I have at least another Grand Slam title in me," said A-Rod. But, he also knows time is running out. "It's getting to the point where you want to make that happen sooner rather than later," said the American. "This is probably the first year where you reflect back and say it's gone by too fast," [...] "You have to re-evaluate at some point. And pushing toward another Slam is the prominent goal." (via Courier News Online)


To coach or not to coach: Roger Federer recently let go of Aussie legend Tony Roche as his coach (he now coaches fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.) Though he's gone successfully without coaching before (2004 = 3 Grand Slams) he's taking the decision to bring on someone new very seriously. "Do I want a coach? If so, do I want a guy to pick up balls or someone to travel with me all the time?" asked the dominant Swiss. "I'm world number one and I don't want to take chances. Everything I decide has to be thought out. I have to take all of my decisions wisely and slowly." He is sure of one thing: the 2012 Olympics. "I admire the way that (Andre) Agasssi (sic) played through three tennis generations," [...] "I know I want to play the 2012 London Olympics, when I will almost 31." (via Yahoo! Eurosport UK)


Justine's hangover: Justine Henin is still caught up in her Wimbledon misery. Playing in this week's Rogers Cup, the World No. 1 says she wants vindication for that loss. "Wimbledon, it seems far away from me now, but it's true that I have also a feeling that I need a little bit of revenge from that," said Henin. "I could be very calm and understand what did happen. It's tough, you need a lot of humility." (via CBS Sportsline)
7:31 AM 
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 


Sveta styles out: Down the Line! is thrilled, and a bit surprised we might add, to welcome Svetlana Kuznetsova into the flirty skirt crew (courtesy of her clothing sponsor, Fila.) We're loving the style and the color blocks on the back of the shirt.

A while back we voted Sveta the next best candidate for a makeover and we think this is a great start. Could a swan-lake dress be next?

7:30 AM 
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 

After her disappointing loss at the Acura Classic to Russian Anna Chakvetadze, 6-time Grand Slam champ Venus "V" Williams has decided to lay low until the US Open starts. But V is the subject of a current Newsweek article which discusses her past achievements and current marks on the sport, including her much-publicized fight to get equal pay for the women of the WTA Tour. Here's what she had to say...


On her first Wimbledon experience:
"The first time I played at Wimbledon, I was so young and so sure I was going to win that I bought a ball dress to wear to the championship parties."

On her efforts to get equal pay for women at Wimbledon:
"I asked [the committee] to imagine their daughter out there," [...] "playing equally hard as men and not getting the same reward."

On why her parents believe change has been absent for African-American players on the tennis tours:
"Both of my parents are from the South, and that shapes the way they think about and see things'' [...] "I know what they and my ancestors experienced, so I get it. But it has been slightly different for my sister and I. We've had opportunities and breaks our parents never had."

On dating and marriage:
"I don't worry about it too much" [...] "As Beyoncé says, 'I could have another you in a minute'." [...] "I don't really spend a lot of time thinking about marriage and kids. I'm not a normal girl like that."

On the murder of her half-sister, Yetunde, in 2003:
"That took a lot out of all of us" [...] "I think the worst part was getting back to feeling safe after she died. For a long time after that I would call all my sisters daily to make sure they were OK."

7:27 AM 
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 

(image courtesy of imagine24)

- A champion's tribute: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Aretha Franklin, Carol Moseley Braun, and other African-American women who broke barriers will be on hand at this year's US Open to honor Althea Gibson's 50th anniversary win at the Grand Slam.

- Michael Chang, who won the French Open at 17, is reportedly opening a tennis academy in the Chinese city of Shenzhen

- Mag bag: Bruno Danto, former editor in chief of Vogue Hommes International, is launching a US version of Sport & Style, a lifestyle magazine looking at the relationship between fashion and sports. French newspaper L'Équipe currently distributes a European version in France, Dubai, and select markets in China.

- Before the stunning results of the men's Rogers Cup this past weekend, Roger Federer told reporters, "It's very hard for one player to beat [Rafael Nadal and me consecutively]," [...] "I don't think it has ever happened. If he's not playing well, I am, or vice versa." I guess the Djoker wasn't listening...

- Grafassi update: The Grafassi's, Steffi & Andre, will be interviewed by Mary Carillo in a segment on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on August 14. BONUS: Tennis Served Fresh has a peak at their much anticipated ad campaign for Louis Vuitton.

- Anastasia Myskina, Russia's first ever Grand Slam champion, will appear in a Russian reality series called "Stars on Ice," a skating competition that partners celebrities with professional figure skaters and pits the pairs against one another.
12:15 AM 
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 

Anna expands: Original Russian glamourpuss Anna Kournikova isn't playing much tennis these days (aside from some exhibition matches here and there) but that doesn't mean she's just sitting pretty. The former Wimbledon semifinalist is partnering with sponsor K-Swiss on a new clothing line for 2008. "It will be tennis, workout stuff, yoga stuff," said Anna. "It will basically be stuff that you can be in the gym in and then go to a coffee shop in. It is a lifestyle line and stuff. So you can mix and match it. It will all be together and hopefully it will be cool." We hope so too, Anna...we'll be watching. (via Tennis Week)


Jelena speaks up: Not to be outdone by the Serbian dynamic duo, fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic, appearing as defending champion at this week's Roger's Cup, takes her turn talking to the media about her experiences growing up. Though she attended The Bollittieri Academy during the bombings in 1999, her family was still living in the former Yugoslavia. "I escaped the bombing raids, but my whole family was in Belgrade," said the World No. 3. "I was worried sick, hoping no harm would come to them." About her loss to eventual champion Ana Ivanovic at last week's East West Bank Classic, Jelena said, "I wasn't moving well even in the early rounds. I had a cold and spent some time in bed, which weakened my body. In the semi-final against Ana my legs wouldn't carry me properly. I just couldn't play well." Sour grapes or reality check? (via SLAM! Sports)


Japan plays favorites: Guess who's the second most recognized and popular tennis player in Japan (I guess the photos above are a giveaway, huh?) Believe it or not, Russian Elena Dementieva, and not for the obvious reasons (first is, of course, Federer.) A Japanese reporter gave her the low-down in a press conference this week.

Reporter: "The problem with the Japanese people is that they're intimidated by people like you. How can you suggest people from Japan might be less scared of you?"
ED: "Oh really, they're scared of me? Why, because I'm too tall?"

Reporter: "Because you're taller, you're tough and you're so beautiful."
ED: "I don't know what to say," [...] "I'm not that scary."

We have an idea. How about distracting them with some good serving, Elena? (via globeandmail.com)

(images courtesy of AP Photos)
12:14 AM 
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 
Check it: Our obsession with vintage Nike fashion is out of control. We first spotted Spain's Rafael Nadal at the Mercedes Cup this summer rocking an 80's-inspired Nike t-shirt and we were hooked. After discovering more t-shirts recently we came upon our newest find: World No. 1 Roger Federer, fresh off his defeat to Serb Novak Djokovic at The Rogers Cup, practicing at this week's Cincinnati Masters tournament in another great vintage Nike tee.


We became inspired to search for more information on Nike's vintage moment and stumbled upon this brilliant site: Nike Vintage Running.


The site features all things vintage including their 2007 vintage running collection, downloads, iron ons, campy imagery, and more.


Tennis Served Fresh opened the debate recently on this style.

Is this a BIG HIT or BAD MISS for Nike? Tell us...

(images courtesy of Nike Vintage Running)

12:13 AM 
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