FASHION FIX: Monfils makes it five in his K-Swiss catastrophe

Gael Monfils was taken to the distance today but escaped a first round ousting at the US Open edging out homeboy Robert Kendrick 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4. The match was not without controversy and I'm not just talking about his K-Swiss (more on that in a bit.)

With La Monf serving 4-all at deuce, a return by Robert appeared to clip the 17th seed's racquet before going long. The call went against the American who proceeded to complain to the chair with no success. The Frenchie managed to hold then break for the win. If anyone has a clip of the incident feel free to leave the link in the DtL Peanut Gallery.

Now, about this K-Swiss get up. If there was an early candidate for worst outfit of the US Open THIS would be it. I mean, talk about full-on FUG. Are those claw marks around his neck? Was this evil clown-inspired? Even the fit looks a bit tight. I can live with the shorts but that's really about it.

I do like this photo from his match today, though:

Yeah, let's just leave this post with a good feeling, shall we?

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

FASHION FIX: Rafa vs. La Monf

Rafael Nadal may have won the battle on the tennis court today in Madrid crushing Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-3 and getting closer to regaining the No. 2 ranking (if he wins his semifinal match against compatriot Nicolas Almagro), but who won the fashion fight - Rafa's Nike or La Monf's K-Swiss?

On a side note, I'm sure these brands are cringing. As they should be.

[Photo(s): Reuters]

PHOTO OP: Samurai stop (please)

"Cluck, cluck y'all."

This photo of Sam Querrey is awkward on so many levels I don't even know where to start - the K-Swiss catastrophe, his facial expression, the strange on-court chicken dance. It's all just a big MESS.

But maybe this explains his first round 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7- 5 loss to qualifying home boy Daniel Muzoz-de La Nava in Madrid today. Exactly. WHO???

Oh Samurai, you've seen better days in all ways (like last week in Belgrade.)

[Photo(s): Reuters]

FASHION FIX: La Monf wins in Madrid, kisses K-Swiss hello

Gael Monfils played and won his first match in two months when he defeated compatriot Stephane Robert 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of Madrid today. The Frenchie baller has been dealing with a hand injury which has kept him off the ATP World Tour since Indian Wells in March. He'll face either Fabio Fognini or Philipp Petzschner in the next round.

La Monf also debuted his brand-spanking new K-Swiss gear during the match. The 23-year old, who will represent both apparel and footwear, had been with Nike for years before making the switch. The company made the formal announcement today in a press release.

"I am thrilled to join such an iconic tennis brand with a great reputation for athlete collaboration," said Monfils. "I am looking forward to working with K-Swiss on developing my own line of clothes to launch next year and growing our relationship in the years to come."

La Monf joins Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, The Bryan Brothers, Vera Zvonareva, Alona Bondarenko and Liezel Huber in the K-Swiss stable.

I'd say it's a pretty decent coup to grab him from Nike, especially after their failed attempts at luring Novak Djokovic + Andy Murray over. He's now the highest ranked boy baller they have in their lineup.

Now only if he could start winning some big ones. Or even some medium ones. Just win, damn it.


[Photo(s): Reuters, Getty Images]

So long adidas: Sam signs seven-figure deal with K-Swiss

Sam Querrey will be adding a fourth stripe to the three he currently sports with adidas.

According to Sports Business Journal, the 22-year old American has signed a seven-figure apparel and shoe deal with K-Swiss and will debut the new duds beginning in 2010. Sam's contract with adidas is set to expire at the end of the year and discussions were held with a number of high-profile companies about a possible sponsorship deal according to his agent, John Tobias, who confirmed the details with Tennis Week this morning:

We are very excited about Sam's new partnership with K-Swiss. We had discussions with several other companies including Nike, Lacoste and Li Ning. Ultimately, adidas had the ability to match any offer and they passed on matching the K-Swiss proposal. Sam is excited to be with a smaller company where he will join Mardy Fish as the lead endorser in the U.S.

Along with the two Americans K-Swiss also houses The Flying Bondarenko Sisters Alona + Kateryna, Tommy Haas, Vera Zvonareva, and Anna Kournikova.

Of course, the end of the year is always ripe with rumored sponsorship switches as current contracts expire and lucrative offers hit the table. Novak Djokovic is said to be considering a "Sam Sequel" and taking his own leap from adidas to K-Swiss while whispers have been growing about Andy Murray leaving Fred Perry for the German sports giant in the very near future.

Stay tuned!

(Photo: SamQuerrey.com)

THE LOW DOWN: Is Nole looking to leave adidas for K-Swiss?

Novak Djokovic is reportedly looking to make another money-making move at the start of the 2010 season.

The Serb may be jumping ship to join K-Swiss when his current contract with adidas expires at the end of this year according to the Sports Business Journal's Daniel Kaplan. The sports apparel brand already houses Tommy Haas, The Flying Bondarenkos Alona + Kateryna, Mardy Fish, Vera Zvonareva, and Anna Kournikova.

Nole is no stranger to switches in sponsorship, of course, having made a much-discussed and criticized racquet switch from Wilson to HEAD at the start of this season. His results seemed to suffer afterwards leading many pundits to blame the abrupt money-making switch as a reason. I doubt anyone (at least I'm hoping) will think to blame any lackluster results on his clothing if this happens. I mean, REALLY.

It would be a huge coup for K-Swiss, however, to grab Nole, a Top 5 baller and Grand Slam champion. Unfortunately, in terms of aesthetic value and fit, adidas tops K-Swiss all over the place so let's hope they amp up the design quotient for the Serb.

(Photo: Getty)

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Gwen + Gavin take in Nole + Marat at K-Swiss Desert Smash

Gwen Stefani, son Zuma, and her sexy tennis-loving hubby Gavin Rossdale were guests at the 5th annual K-Swiss Desert Smash gala at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, CA.

The tennis and golf event benefited Variety Club of the Desert: The Children’s Charity, a group of local business leaders helping kids in need.


The famous family and their fellow celeb guests including Lance Bass, Michael Vartan, Daniel Baldwin watched a doubles match featuring the sexy pairing of Novak Djokovic + Marat Safin. Do you think they did a synchronized short dropping show, y'know for old time's sake?

One can only dream. *faints, drools on self*

UPDATE: Thanks to an anonymous reader you can see more images from the day here (btw, who's the grey-shirted hottie in images #17 + 20. D-reamy.)

(image via FilmMagic)

PHOTO OP: K-Swiss goes off-shore fishing, nets Anna K. (how lucky)

K-Swiss has released images from their Spring/Summer 2009 ad campaign starring Anna Kournikova.

The original Russian glamourpuss, who hasn't completely shut the door on a comeback apparently, looks typically sexy in these black and white photos. She'll be starring in two TV spots and a series of print ads for the sports apparel brand.

So, what was the one of the themes here? Off-shore fishing?? C'mon, even Anna can't make this net look hot - we all have our limits.






(via popcrunch.com)

FASHION FIX: It's a new, stylish world for Fish

Mardy Fish is looking to keep his good form going at the US Claycourt Championships. The American moved into the second round with 7-6 (4), 6-3 over German Rainer Schuettler.

Mardy's confidence is definitely on display, even in his current fashion taste. The third seed played his first round match in the K-Swiss Ultracell Polo in periwinkle and the Accomplish Court Short in white.

I like this new Mardy and his stylish tennis duds. Could his engagement be the reason he's turned himself around? If so, let's hope A-Rod's does the same for him, though his recent style choices aren't too encouraging.

(image via AP)

Anna shoots new K-Swiss ad, brings fans behind-the-scenes

Anna Kournikova may not be playing professionally anymore, but that doesn't mean the original tennis glamourpuss is just sitting pretty.


The Russian is one of K-Swiss's prized personalities and the former top-tenner just shot a new ad for the sports brand and will be taking part in a triathalon in Miami. Anna blogged about her latest activities and included some behind-the-scenes action saying,

Hi guys -

Here's a quick update on what has been going on this week. On Tuesday I had to get up really early to go to the CBS4 studio and do their morning show to promote the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, which I'll be running in on Sunday. From there, we went straight to the first location and started shooting a new ad for K-Swiss, lots of behind the scenes pictures included for you here! We shot all day until 8pm but got sidetracked by lots of rain, so we had to go back on Wednesday to finish 2 shots, they both ended up great!

Don't forget about the Triathlon on Sunday in South Beach and next week I'll be going to Tijuana, Mexico to open a Boys and Girls Club there, I'm really looking forward to it!!

I wonder what she thinks of Alona as the new Anna?





(images via kournikova.com)

VIDEO VAULT: K-Swiss launches TV ad spot featuring Anna, Alona, and Tommy

Ad watch: Sports brand K-Swiss is in the midst of a major brand revival and is continuing its extensive "Keep it Pure" marketing push including heavy advertising, events, sponsorships, and PR.

I wrote about the print spots featuring Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, and Alona Bondarenko (doing her best Anna K.) and the sports brand recently hosted a launch event in LA with Anna K. working the red carpet in a strange ensemble.

Nevertheless, they've released the broadcast spot featuring their tennis cast of characters.

Check it out:



(video via adfreak.com)

Alona Bondarenko keeps it pure with K-Swiss, or so they think

Alona as Anna: K-Swiss is getting their sex on, and it's not with Anna Kournikova. Recent hairy situation perpetrator Alona Bondarenko joins Anna, Tommy Haas, and Mardy Fish in the brand's tennis stable and is featured in a new ad for the sports label with the tag line "KEEP IT PURE".

Do they mean a purely obvious attempt at irony?

(via adpulp.com)

Tommy Haas signs 3-year endorsement deal with K-Swiss

Tommy Haas is joining Russian Anna Kournikova under the K-Swiss flag. The German tennis star recently signed a three-year endorsement deal as a new spokesman for K-Swiss and will wear K-Swiss clothes and apparel on court starting in January. Tommy was most recently with German sports brand Limited Sports and Nike prior to that sponsorship. Asked about the partnership, the World No. 12 said,

"I remember seeing K-Swiss as a kid when I was starting my tennis career and am thrilled to be associated with a brand with such a strong heritage, [...] I am obviously excited about the performance tennis styles but also eager to collaborate on off court opportunities as well."

The new global K-Swiss advertising campaign will make its debut in February, 2008. The campaign will be showcased in television, print, on-line, and outdoor venues. Tommy joins Alona Bondarenko, Australian Open women's doubles champions Cara Black and Liezel Huber, and the aforementioned Kournikova, who recently shot a TV spot for the sportswear label in LA, as the current tennis stars for the K-Swiss brand.

(images via tennisweek.com)

Anna Kournikova hits the beach for K-Swiss, takes trip back to Russia

Though she rarely steps foot on a professional tennis court these days, Anna Kournikova isn't hurting for sponsorships. The original Russian glamour girl still has K-Swiss under her wing and recently shot a new commercial for the athletic brand in LA - check out these behind-the-scenes shots.


And speaking of Russia, the former top-tenner just got back from a holiday trip back to her homeland and said,

"I just got back from my trip to Russia visiting my family and friends. It's been a while since I had been back to Moscow, and I had such an amazing time! I wasn't used to the cold weather and the snow at first, but it was actually a nice change for me, and it really got me into the holiday spirit. I had a chance to relax and spend a lot of time hanging out with my friends and family,so it
was the perfect holiday gift I could give myself!"

Hmmm - no mention of boyfriend Enrique Iglesias tagging along on the trip. How can she break the news of their rumored engagement without him there? Maybe it's just that then...a rumor...*sigh*.

(images via kournikova.com)

ROUND ROBIN: Anna K. designs new line, Jelena thinks back, and Elena scares people

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)