FASHION FIX: Another Wimbledon dress surfaces for Sharapova - could this be the one?

Here's another dress option that Maria "Shriek"apova could be wearing next week at she goes for a second Wimbledon crown.

This is called the Nike Sharapova Wimbledon Dress and it reminds me of a baby-doll dress with its empire waist and duel-tiering. There seems to be some interesting etching on the fabric which gives the dress texture.

But there's also a blue version which is called the US Open Day Dress and I'm sure she wouldn't wear the same outfit for both Grand Slams.

The mystery continues!

(image via prodirecttennis.com)

FASHION FIX: Sharapova's Wimbledon outfit revealed? Maybe so!

The time has come for the annual "Maria Mystery": what will the Russian fashionista be wearing on the green lawns of Wimbledon this year?


Suffice it to say I would be completely shocked and a bit impressed if Nike and Maria came up with the following outfit for her to wear. Traditionally the 21-year old leans towards dresses, and there is also a dress option this year, but what she's wearing in the ad campaign is the Sharapova Wimbledon Sleeveless Top and the Sharapova Wimbledon Woven Short from the White/Gold Collection.

The top is reminiscent of a men's suit vest with the 3-button placket on the front (and we know how much Maria's been loving that look.) The dreaded shorty-shorts, which I've never liked, make up the bottom of this outfit. I like that they're not super low-rise and have interesting 2-button detailing on the waistband and a cinch on the back. I'll take a wait-and-see approach on the shorts.


The second option, which would be the obvious choice for the Russian, is the Wimbledon Tiered Pleats Dress which looks similar to the much ballyhooed Swan Dress from last year's Championships. The dress is essentially a tank dress with triple-tiered pleating and a keyhole back. Simple, elegant and classic.

Here's the description:

Under the tagline "Pretty Traditional", this slogan represents not only the underlying beauty of the dress as well as a double meaning inferring its traditional design albeit with a non-conservative approach. Sharapova was also given the Wimbledon Blazer Mid Lux, a reinvented version of the classic Blazer basketball shoe. As part of the Grand Slam Lux Line, it combines top quality premium leather coupled with high-class touches such as satin ribbon laces. The sneaker also draws references to Maria's appreciation of the Wimbledon Tennis Dress with ruffles on the back tab.

Say what?! A basketball shoe with ruffles paired with that dress?? So they've clipped her wings and given her high tops. Innovative.

I searched around and found a version of a Nike Blazer Mid Lux, and if Maria's working something close to these shoes, I'll die, die, die:


(images via tennisforum.com, protennis.com, amazon.com)

Is it Wimbledon or Wendy that's making me an Anglophile?

Freelance writer Wendy M. Grossman is blogging for TENNIS.com from Eastbourne, which according to Wendy is England's version of Florida because "it's theoretically warmer than the rest of England and people retire here" and you probably get sightings of leathery-skinned old people like Nick Bollettieri or something.

Anyway, I'm thinking Wendy's English because she made some observations in the typically deadpan, bitchy way English people do that may not have been meant to be hysterical but made me laugh in my cereal. You know, the way Tim Henman just recently described Czech ballers as being a "bit niffy" which, translated, means they smell like roadkill or something. Sounds fine in English but that's snarky Timmy.

For example, Wendy explains the appeareance of real, live British ballers in Eastbourne but explains away the rare occurrence by saying it must be "early in the tournament." Wendy continues by saying she's noticed something new with Brit Katie O'Brien:

She showed the effects of a very notable change in British tennis: she looked fit. Last year, the British women were easy to spot because they all looked like they'd just gotten out of school.

Ouch! I'm convinced you're English, Wendy, or at least you write like you are. In any case, keep 'em coming because you're keeping me in tears.

(image via Getty)

SIGHTING: Fed + Mirka spotted at Euro 2008 with Tony Parker + Eva Longoria

Roger Federer and girlfriend "Mirror" Vavrinec were spotted taking in Euro 2008 with the NBA's Tony Parker and his wife Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria. They were all in Zurich watching the Group C football match France vs. Italy.

I love seeing images like this. Who would've ever imagined Fed hanging with Eva Longoria? What the hell are they all talking about?? Did Mirror and Eva go shopping and stuff???

Maybe Fed's deciding whether to go all Hollywood like another baller we all love...


(image via Getty)

Quote of the Day: Bartoli on Yuri Sharapov

He didn't put any pressure on me. He wasn't saying, 'You have to win,' or 'You have to do this or you have to do that'. He's not like Maria Sharapova's dad. It's completely different.

- Marion Bartoli on comparing father, Walter, to Yuri Sharapov

Damn - just put it all out there Marion. The Frenchie does have a point, though, since Maria's dad is, like, c-r-a-z-y.

(image via The Age)

PHOTO OP: A fan's-eye view of Rafa at Queen's Club + Roland Garros

A huge thanks to DtL! reader Mereana, a New Zealander livin' it up in London, for providing these images - a fan's view of the action from the recent Queen's Club tourney where Rafael Nadal won his very first grass-court title and some practice shots from Roland Garros where the Spaniard won his fourth consecutive championship.

If anyone else will be attending tournaments soon, particularly the Grand Slams, I'd be more than happy to post the photos for you here. Contact me at tips@downthelinetennis.com!

And, check out the rest of Mereana's tennis photos and more at Planet Ranger.

Venus evokes classic grace and beauty in new photography book

A new coffee table book called "Venus Williams" by photographer Koto Bolofo has just been released and features an inspired, conceptual exploration of the 4-time defending Wimbledon champion's life.


The stunningly beautiful photographs of V, many in black + white, evoke images of powerful yet graceful and elegant women of their time including French Open champion Suzanne Lenglen, Josephine Baker and others. Bolofo spoke with the UK's The Times about running into his muse for the first time on the streets of London four years ago:

I turned a corner in Covent Garden and there was this tall, beautiful black woman and I thought, ‘I fancy her!’ I’d never seen such a graceful woman. She was wearing a bright fluorescent pink raincoat and stood out like a sore thumb.

He readily admits always wanting to photograph V after watching her win the first of her Wimby titles:

There was such a strength of woman in her. I had never seen anyone like this. She was like a gazelle, so pure. But I wanted to photograph her my way – not as a sports star with lots of muscles, but as a woman.

Since that initial meeting, Bolofo and V became friendly and collaborated on an Italian Vogue shoot which eventually led to working on the book. He has traveled around the globe with the 6-time Grand Slammer including London, Istanbul, Paris and New York shooting images for "Venus Williams".


And what did V initially think of Bolofo's vision?

He saw something in me that no one else has ever seen, the side that’s classic tennis player, with elegance and grace.

Wimbledon's official clothing sponsor, Ralph Lauren, will be throwing a launch party for the event this week as a lead up to V's defense of her crown. The former no. 1 will also be writing for The Times through the fortnight.

And, as always, look for her to do it all with effortless style.

(via Great Tennis Photos, images by Koto Bolofo)

FASHION FIX: The problem with adidas as told through Ana's Grand Slam dresses

Picture this: You're the world's top-ranked lady baller and current French Open champion who's been featured on the cover of countless magazine covers, billboards and newspapers. Your big sponsor, adidas, dressed you up in tired gear for your big win in Paris this month but no hard feelings, right? All you want is an originally designed, inspired and functional dress to wear for the final Grand Slams of the year and here's what they give you:

The Wimbledon dress (above), in the required white with lilac piping around the neckline and arm holes, was supposedly inspired by flower petals but I'm thinking someone was eating lady fingers when they came up with the design. And for the US Open you're sporting the same dress but in some drab grey-brown moment (below). *Yawn* Even the proportions, most noticeably the length of the dress, seem awkward on you.


Anway Ana, you might want to think about getting yourself involved in the design of next year's dresses. How about something like adidas by ana, ana for adidas, or a partnership like Maria "not even close to top-10" Kirilenko and Stella McCartney have with the brand? Oh, and instead of annoyed bloggers (like me!) writing open letters to your sponsor you might want to let them in on their lackadaisical design efforts for one of tennis' top stars.

It's your image, that's all.

(images via adidas, anaivanovic.com)

PHOTO OP: Fed, Rafa and a tale of two reactions

A picture can sooo tell a thousand words, right?

If you take the winning faces of Roger Federer in Halle and Rafael Nadal at Queen's Club and compare them who seems the most confident, enthusiastic and, most importantly, looks like he has the belief he'll grab the Wimbledon title in three weeks time??

I have my guess...

(images via Getty)

WEEKEND WINNERS: Fed, Rafa, Kolya, Maria K + Kateryna

Halle - Roger Federer

The 5-time defending Wimby champion made it 5 titles in Halle after easily dismissing homeboy Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 and extending his win streak on grass to a record 59 matches. But with his shaky performance in the French Open final and Rafa's awesome momentum right now, Fed's reign at The All-England Club will be severely challenged this year.

Queen's Club - Rafael Nadal

Note to Roger Federer: BE AFRAID. The Mallorcan Matador made a huge breakthrough and statement this weekend when he became the first Spaniard in 36 years to win a grass-court title by defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6 (5), 7-5, extending his winning streak to 17 straight matches. All of this success bodes will for Rafa at Wimbledon where he will be a towering favorite when the Slam begins next week.

Warsaw - Nikolay Davydenko

Kolya returned to the slippery stuff (anyone know why that makes sense right now? Oh yes, ch-ching!) to claim his third title this year by conquering Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-3 in Warsaw. Let's just say the Russian's probably not expecting much to happen in London besides maybe a lot of free time.


Barcelona - Maria Kirilenko

Maria added to her title in Estoril by crushing first-time finalist Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0, 6-2 in the championship match in Barcelona. I guess she's also looking forward to some serious free time in London, right Kolya?

Birmingham - Kateryna Bondarenko

Kateryna, of the Flying Bondarenkos, took advantage of a weakened draw (Jelena Jankovic + Dinara Safina withdrew) and earned her first professional career title on the green grass of Birmingham with a 7-6(7), 3-6 7-6(4) win over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Kat's clearly comfortable on the grass as she won the Wimby junior girls' title over Ana Ivanovic in 2004. Could she be a darkhorse candidate in London?

(images via Getty)