FASHION FIX: Serena + Sharapova win openers, debut latest Nike designs

Serena Williams made her Centre Court debut today and sent a clear signal today that she is ready to defend her Wimbledon crown.

The 3-time champ was in ominous form defeating a quieter but not subdued Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-0, 6-4. Her stats tell the tale including 47 winners/15 UEs, 15 aces, 64% first serve, 9 of 12 net approaches and - most impressively - 27 of 27 points won on her first serve. Yikes.

ReRe will face Anna Chakvetadze for a spot in the third round.

So here's a look at what ReRe's wearing - on her body and her nails - as she goes for a fourth Wimby title.


She's working the Nike Women's Fall Control Lawn Dress ($80) in white + voltage cherry which she was asked about in her post-match presser:

Q. Can you talk us through your outfit today.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, we dubbed it Strawberries and Cream. Strawberries, is that the correct enunciation of it? I don't have a good British accent. The red is strawberries and the white is cream. It's not like a pure white; it's more of a cream. Also the red kind of symbolizes a lot of things I do in Africa, along with a lot of the work, like the red laces. Everybody that buys a pair can pretty much save a life in Africa.

I really kind of wanted to tie that all together with this championship. Since it means so much to me, I thought it could work well. The tournament means so much to me as well as the things I do in Africa. I thought it could also work well together.

Q. Your nails look good today.

SERENA WILLIAMS: They have strawberries on them, too. If I would have thought about it, I would have put a strawberry instead of a heart. They're hearts. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. I could have had a strawberry.

I bet she did the nails herself since she's now a licensed nail technician. I mean, why get someone else to do it?

Anyway, I love this entire outfit including the warm up jacket - great fit, color combo, reference to the strawberries + cream - and of course the red knickers which are reminiscent of a certain lady baller's who's been out and, I fear, may not return. It seems even a bit sophisticated and definitely appropriate for the defending ladies champion.

Dear Venus: Please take note. If this design idea was in your hands you might have decided to wear an actual bowl of strawberries + cream on your head. It's all about interpretation, and this is how you do it.


Maria Sharapova's game wasn't looking too shabby today either. The 2004 champ crushed compatriot Anastasia Pivovarova 6-1, 6-0 in her opening round match hitting 15 winners/12 UEs and 13 of 18 net approaches. Her serve, though, will determine whether she makes any impression this fortnight. Even though her first serve percentage was only 51 she managed to keep her double fault tally at 2 for the match. That's a pretty good start.

She'll next face Ioana Raluca Olaru, who defeated Alize Cornet, in the next round.


Shrieka is wearing the Nike Lawn Rose Dress ($120) which features layers of jersey inspired by rose petals around the skirt while a layer wraps front to back on the bust.

Alright guys, this is absolutely her best dress of the entire season so far. The Russian's still doing her fave layered look but the interpretation and execution is spot on. I think having the dress code restriction may have been the best thing for her design aspirations here. Kudos to that!

[Photo(s): Getty Images, TennisWarehouse.com]