FASHION FIX: Venus Williams makes 2008 debut in Hong Kong, works EleVen tennis gear

Venus Williams, recently voted one of Vogue magazine's best dressed for 2007, made her 2008 debut at the JB Group Classic exhibition in Hong Kong. The former tennis World No. 1 took on China's Peng Shuai and won easily 6-1, 6-2.

V, who also recently graduated with a degree in fashion design, is continuing to wear her EleVen clothing line in tournaments which she debuted at last year's US Open. This outfit is reminiscent of her past outfits from the line - nothing new but still clean and classic.

(images via AP)

FASHION FIX: Jelena Jankovic keeps it short with Reebok

Say it isn't so: Not only is the men's hairy situation continuing into 2008, the women have continued another unfortunate moment from 2007: shorty-shorts. The latest culprit is none other than Jelena Jankovic. Sponsor Reebok has given the Serb, who is competing at this week's Hopman Cup, some pretty jewel colors to work with this season (similar to Nicole Vaidisova's dress) but the shorts have to go.

We think this style is very boyish and reminds us of warm-up gear - not something to wear in world-class tennis competition. Let's hope the World No. 3 leaves these shorts in Perth and brings something cool and interesting to Melbourne for the Oz Open.

(images via AP)

THE LOW DOWN: Is Mardy Fish engaged to a gameshow model?

What's the deal: Can someone tell us what's up with American male tennis players dating models? First, Andy Roddick hooked up with Sports Illustrated's Brooklyn Decker and then James Blake was rumored to be seeing Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks.

Now comes word that Mardy Fish is engaged to Stacey Gardner, a briefcase-holding model on the NBC hit gameshow Deal or No Deal. Clearly Mardy's hairy situation hasn't hurt his prospects with the ladies.

UPDATE: We got a tip from The Big Lead to check Mardy's Wikipedia page for confirmation on the engagement and here's what we found: "In November of 2007, Mardy became engaged to Stacey Gardner, a California attorney and a "Briefcase Model" on NBC's 'Deal Or No Deal'." Case solved.

(images via tennisnews.com and thebiglead.com)

FASHION FIX: Maria Sharapova's holiday hangover?

Speaking of Maria "Shriek"apova, here she is battling Denamark's Caroline Wozniacki at the JB Group Classic in Hong Kong, which the Russian won 6-2, 6-2. Maria wore this Nike plum + pink color combo at last season's Sony Ericsson WTA Championships, and we fell in love.

We still like it, as well as the top and skirt, but what's up with the leggings? Is the tennis fashionista, who we spotted working this trend in a picture with her mom in front of her Christmas tree, having a holiday hangover??

(images via AP)

FASHION FIX: A closer look at Maria Sharapova's Aussie Open Nike dresses

So here are the two Nike tank dresses Maria "Shriek"apova will be wearing at the Australian Open this month, one of which we previewed earlier (though we thought it looked more grey in the sketch drawings.) This khaki dress is most likely what last year's finalist will be wearing in the day.
For the evening, the tennis fashionista will wear another khaki dress with long center pleating in the front and back, pleating at the hem and a hint of a white slip underneath. Additionally the outfit looks to be made of a softer, more fluid fabric for ease of movement. This dress is clearly the better of the two because of its design and elegance, but we're not so sure about the color overall. We think it's a bit flat and we're not sure if it'll wash the Russian out. But against the new blue plexicushion courts, the dress could work well.
We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of Maria in the evening dress from our reader Kimmy who forwarded us a Nike ad featuring the former No. 1 in the design.

(outfit images via canada.com thru midwestsports.com)

Letter to our readers: HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all a safe and prosperous New Year!

(or at least a well-rested one, which is why we won't be posting today)

PHOTO OP: Mardy Fish's got a hairy situation on his, eh, head

We're bowled over: The ATP's 'hairy situation' from 2007 looks to be bleeding into the New Year. The latest offender: Mardy Fish. Competing at this week's Hopman Cup, the American looks to be working his 7th grade 'bowl' cut and some serious scruff on the face. What gives Mardy?

(image via AP)

FASHION FIX: The ladies of Lacoste return, and so does the brand

Resurrected: Two ladies of Lacoste, Pocahontas wannabe Tatiana Golovin and Argentine Gisela Dulko, have returned at the Hopman Cup and, by the looks of things, so has the brand. When reminiscing about last season's Lacoste tennis duds, one word comes to mind: loungewear. We also remember some unfortunate polka-dots.

Anyway, this season the Frenchwear label has gone the more classic route of polo shirts with skirts while managing to keep the looks feminine with long, deep plackets on the tops and flirty fabrics on bottom. Nice start for ladies' Lacoste, we think.

(images via AP Photo)

PHOTO OP: The mystery of Maria Sharapova's mom is solved

Mystery mom: We don't know about you, but we've never seen the woman who gave us Maria "Shriek"apova. Rumor has it she doesn't enjoy watching Maria's matches and only likes to hear the scores afterwards.Well, ladies and gentlemen, from the "Maria Does the Holidays" photo series here she is...

Our first thought was, of course, where did she get her height from (jealous much?) Father Yuri is pretty short so we imagined her mom to be another 6' 2" Russian bombshell but, alas, we were wrong. Maria's even wearing ballerina flats and mom is in heels and she still doesn't come close to matching her height.

So one mystery is solved...onto the next...

(image via mariasharapova.com)

FASHION FIX: adidas hits high mark with Alicia Molik, confuses with Novak Djokovic at Hopman Cup

FINALLY: Though we thought Sania Mirza's new adidas threads were fine, we are LOVING what the sports label has given Alicia Molik to wear at this weekend's Hopman Cup. Of all the so-called 'new' looks and styles we've seen for Australia, this is our favorite by far.

We're impressed with the white + wine color combo and the innovative details including the ergonomic dotting, the peek-a-boo florescent accents at the cap sleeves, and the hint of white border on the skirt. These subtle elements take the brand forward without trying too hard, plus it's obviously functional. We guess adidas gave the hometown girl something special to wear - smart.

Where we're left scratching our heads is why Novak Djokovic is sporting 2007 adidas duds at the start of 2008? We'd rather have him play shirtless than have him wear this over-the-top number again - and who would disagree? Not smart.


(images via AP Photo, novak-djokovic.com)