The 2013 Spring Fashion Scoop

The beginning of the 2013 season might have belonged to Adidas, which shone bright with its hip yellow and grey garments, but the spring saw a reversal of fortune in the clash of the titans. Nike upped its game, got rid of the heavy orange and purple clothes, and showcased some cool, fresh attire. The hideous combination was replaced with some really cool mixtures of white, turquoise and neon yellow, Serena's outfit being just the best example of this new direction. While witnessing Nike flourish, I got a bit worried about the latest AdiZero line, mainly because I find the blue azul, i.e. the replacer of the yellow, a rather unfortunate colour to dominate the collection. Fila introduced the 'Carwash' madness, a rather unfortunate project if you ask me. Taking all these stupid risks has not paid off, so guys, it's time to reconsider. The brand did a good job while sticking to its conservative roots, so probably that what it should be doing moving forward. 

When it comes to the big names, Venus continues to produce some stunning pieces for her EleVen line, while Russian fashionista, Maria Sharapova, is still struggling to regain her credentials. Roger Federer is also making poor fashion choices, signalling that the Fedwork is not quite 'orange' at the moment. 

Serena Williams - NIKE

This is actually one of my favourite dresses so far this season. While the previous version looked heavy and almost kitschy, this one is the complete opposite. It is fresh, vibrant, young and extremely hip. I love the colour combo, the white looking stunning with those neon yellow and blue touches. Serena's garment is surely the fashion hit of the spring.

Roger Federer - NIKE 'RF' Group

Since the start of the season, Federer has been struggling to find his best form and this is reflected also in his poor fashion choices. To be honest, this garment is becoming a bit dated (having worn it since the 2012 Olympics), plus the orange seems like a really unfortunate colour selection. The Fedwork is not so Orange lately.

Maria Sharpova - NIKE 'Maria Sharapova' Group

Oh my, oh my. I am really getting tired of seeing these extremely unflattering outfits on Sharapova. The Russian diva continues to make the same mistake and refuses to learn her lesson. Maria, these clothes are too sporty, too tied to your body, plus the design is boring, mass-market like. Your signature line does not have the star quality you are after. Please go back to those flowy, princessy outfits that established you as a true tennis fashionista.

For me, Venus Williams is the epitome of a tennis fashionista. She knows what to wear and how to wear her outfits. Having delivered so many memorable pieces throughout the years, the American has toned down her style recently in what I believe to be an attempt to make her line more accessible to the wider public. However, she does an excellent job at coming up with fresh ideas, wearing something cool and innovative every time she steps onto the court. The dress she wore in Miami is yet another hit, mainly due to the crazy print and the vibrant colours that look so good in contrast with her dark skin tone. 

Ana Ivanovic - AdiZero

I was a huge fan of this year's AdiZero collection. The bright yellow and the faded grey mixture looked stunning, creating the bigger trend Down Under. However, I am not sure the blue azul and the yellow go so well together. I feel like this combo takes something away from the hip and cool vibe of the collection. Sorry guys, it really doesn't work for me.

Flavia Pennetta - AdiZero

Although this is not exactly a new outfit, it's the first time we've seen Pennetta wear it, so that makes it a fashion novelty. The Italian has been battling a persistent injury that sidelined her for several months, but she's now back, looking sharp as ever and hoping to regain her place in the women's elite. All the best Flavia, and nice to have you back!

Caroline Wozniacki - Adidas by Stella McCartney

During the years, I had mixed feelings about Stella McCartney's line. Sometimes it is top notch, but other times it can score some big fashion faux pas (just remember the horrible 'Raffles' dress). The 2013 collection has been sensational though and this Wozniacki is no exception. The only small critic I would have is that the yellow and black together are a bit dated, especially coming from Adidas, so I would probably replace the black skirt with a white one.

Julia Goerges - FILA

Nadia Petrova - FILA

Jelena Jankovic - FILA

This spring Fila has introduced the so-called 'Carwash' dress. According to the manufacturer, "what look like pleats are really strips of fabric that sway and bounce as you move on court, just like the carwash before it went touch free." I honestly don't like the model. It looks too elaborated, resembling more like an art craft project than a tennis attire. Plus, the crazy pinks and blues only add to the heaviness of the outfits. Although they are not the biggest fashion brand, Fila is usually doing a decent job with its garments. However, recently they are pushing the envelope too far, and they have introduced all sorts of weird elements in their line. It started with the infamous costume Kim Clijsters wore during her final US Open and it continues with this Carwash craziness and the not-so-good-looking pink ombre in Jankovic's dress.

Agnieszka Radwanska - Lotto

Marion Bartoli - Lotto

Lotto also showcased its spring apparel with both leading ladies Agnieszka Radwanska and Marion Bartoli opting to wear a relatively nice white dress. I am not a nig fan of this brand, but sometimes they manage to produce some decently looking clothes and I think this dress is a good example. The neon pink touches work brilliantly in this combination. One small critic for the Frenchwoman though, she needs to pay more attention to her accessories. I like the kaki, but she needs drop the red wristband immediately.

Novak Djokovic - UNIQLO

Djokovic might be the world number 1, but the Serb is certainly not looking the part in his Uniqlo clothes. The outfits, which were a collaborative effort between him and the design team, look like a sad pijama. Probably Novak wanted to follow the trends and go with a yellow-grey combination, but the extensive use the dull grey completely spoils the garments. 

READ ALSO: The 2012 Spring Fashion Scoop or The 2012 Spring Fashion Scoop

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Doubles Joy for Kirilenko and Petrova

A week ago they were battling out for the last remained seat, but two matches into the competition and Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova run away with the biggest doubles title of their careers, winning the WTA Championships in Istanbul. 

It was a tense couples of months for the Russians, as with Maria's injury blow, their place at the Season Ending Championships was seriously threatened by Americans Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears. There was such a small margin separating the two teams, as they had to go head-to-head in order to determine who goes to Istanbul. Cheered by a partisan Moscow crowd, last Saturday the home favourites won the semifinal clash at the Kremlin Cup to book a last minute ticket to Turkey.

With only the best four teams present at the prestigious event, the Russians had to play their best tennis in order to challenge their opponents. And they surely did so, especially after being completely blown off court by Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in  the opening set of their semifinal match. Kirilenko and Petrova recovered though at the start of the second act when they took the initiative. They became more aggressive and started dictating the play, managing thus to level the dispute, before securing a superb victory with a brilliantly played tie-break. Things were less difficult in the final, as they faced Czechs Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. The latter, runner-ups at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open, were unable to cope with the inspired performance of their rivals, bowing out 1-6,4-6. 

While Petrova has won the tournament back in 2004 with Meghann Shaughnessy, for Kirilenko this was one of the biggest triumphs of her career. She caps a magnificent 2012 season in both singles and doubles. In singles she lost two finals, in Pattaya and New Haven, got to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and reached her highest ranking at number 12 before the US Open. In doubles, she and Petrova won the bronze medal at London's Olympic Games and were runner-ups at the French Open. The duo will continue their partnership next year when they will seek their first Grand Slam success.

Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova took full advantage of their last-minute ticket to Istanbul by winning the title, their biggest success together. In the final, the Russian duo overcame Czechs Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-1,6-4.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Petrova Comes Alive in Tokyo

Having made it as high as number 3 in the world in 2006, Nadia Petrova struggled to keep up with the times as she dropped out of the world's elite and became a regular presence somewhere outside of the top 20. However, the Russian's momentarily displays of brilliance kept her in contention, making her a fierce rival for all the big guns. The problem with her is her inability to end matches and to obtain the big wins. It all changed at this week's Tokyo Pan Pacific Open though, as Nadia went all the way to winning the biggest trophy of her career.

She started strongly from the very beginning, powering her way through some tricky encounters with the likes of Chinese Shuai Peng, Romanian Simona Halep and Croat Petra Martic before having to dig deep to overcome feisty Italian Sara Errani in the quarterfinals. Having recovered from a set and 4-1 down provided the confidence boost she needed and she approached her next meeting with a totally different attitude. Facing former US Open champion, Sam Stosur, for a place in the final, Nadia was in top form. The Australian stood no chance to her opponent's powerful serves and precise groundstrokes as she bowed out 4-6,2-6 after a relatively straightforward defeat.

Playing for the most important crown of her career, Petrova was determined to not let the chance slip by and her stunning performance completely overwhelmed defending champion, Agnieszka Radwanska, who could not win a single game in the opening set. The Pole, a beaten finalist at Wimbledon this year, showed her tenacity fighting back in style, running away with the second set in a similar convincing fashion, winning it 6-1. In the decider though, the Russian regained her focus and seized the initiative when Radwanska double-faulted two times in the 8th game to hand her the vital break. Nadia went on to serve out her 12th career title and second of 2012, having disposed of Aga's younger sister, Urszula, in the s'Hertogenbosch final.

Is this victory a fluke, or it's the real deal marking Petrova's return to top form? If she can carry the winning momentum for the next couple of weeks, the Russian has a shot of battling her way back to the top 20 by the end of the season.

photo: AFP

FILA Assembles an A-Team

The beginning of 2012 saw a rejuvenation of the Italian manufacturer, Fila, which signed some very respected tennis ambassadors, thus strengthening its presence on the tennis courts. Armed with its newly acquired spokespersons, the Australian Open provided an excellent opportunity for the brand to increase its visibility, especially on the women's side. What I like about this company is the fact that it does not rely on big names only, their team of designers putting forward another collection which maintains the vintage playful vibe, while being cool, vibrant and fresh. The strategy proved successful and, although it cannot compete with giants Adidas or Nike, Fila is gaining ground on smaller sportswear rivals such as Sergio Tacchini, Asics, Lacoste or K-Swiss.
The recent rise of Italian providers is also emphasized by Lotto, which now relies on three prime female competitors, i.e. veteran Francesca Schiavone, Pole Agnieszka Radwanska and Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, all ranked inside the top 15 players of the world.

Oldies but goldies

Kim Clijsters is by far the biggest name in Fila's portfolio. She has been the leading lady for more than a decade now, carrying the brand's name throughout most of her illustrious career. The collaboration was interrupted by the Belgian's two year hiatus, but she showed her loyalty, resuming the deal in 2009 with even more success. She reinforced her credentials once more in Melbourne, being their only representative still left in the competition.

Another member of the old squad is Australian Jelena Dokic. The former world number 5 has been a loyal Fila endorser throughout the years. After enduring months of trials and tribulations, she is also gathering momentum in her comeback after an encouraging 2010 season. Jelena's dress is, in my opinion, once of the greatest pieces of their 2012 collection.

Svetlana Kuznetsova is another Fila household name. Even though she is struggling with some poor performances lately, the two times Grand Slam champion remains a key figure in women's tennis. Style wise, the Russian is by far not the greatest asset, but in her case, her popularity and achievements are enough to generate the desired brand awareness.

The Latest Additions

Jelena Jankovic

Nadia Petrova

Vera Zvonareva

At the start of the new season, Fila made three important conquests, as they signed Russians Nadia Petrova and Vera Zvonareva, as well as Serbian Jelena Jankovic. Each member of the trio possesses a Grand Slam pedigree, having made at least the semifinals in such a tournament. While Petrova has been struggling to find a long-term sponsor for years and Jelena's collaboration with Chinese manufacturer Anta has led to a fashion disaster, Zvonareva has had a lot of success under K-Swiss. Although her switch can seem surprising, she managed to remain one of the best dressed players, keeping true to her trademark consecutive style.

Under construction!

Janko Tipsarevic

What is really lacking for Fila is having some strong men performers under their wing. Although Janko Tipsarevic has proved an excellent ambassador lately, cracking into the top 10 and getting a lot of publicity after becoming the front-face of Jesen’s Extreme Intimo underwear collection, he is still in a No Man's Land. Benefiting from strong legacy in men clothing (i.e. legendary names such as Borg, Becker or Vilas are amid past sponsored players), the company is probably keen on recapturing its position atop of the top men's apparel providers.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

The 2011 New York Fashion Scoop

Every year the US Open provides the ultimate tennis fashion experience and this year was no exception, with the top players ready to showcase their newest garments. It’s acknowledged by now that tennis fashion has developed a life of its own. Nowadays, players stopped wearing common sports apparel and they engage in profitable endorsement deals. Top athletes such as Sharapova, Wozniacki, Federer or Nadal benefit from exclusive clothing lines which guarantee them outfits in line with the latest trends.

Venus Williams - EleVen

She might be a sporadic figure on the WTA tour, but when Venus Williams attends a venue, she surely makes the headlines.  In New York, she stirred the waters by presenting her interpretation of the famous LBD. In spite of all the negative feedback she received, I really liked the lace back, accessorized with a big pink zipper. The dress was worth all the money, being the most spectacular piece of this year’s Open.  Following her withdrawal after being diagnosed with an incurable immune system disease, i.e. the Sjogren's syndrome, many were quick in drawing the final curtain on her career. Nevertheless, with a fashion line relying heavily on her ambassadorship, I am sure Venus will continue to make several appearances here and there, just to ensure word of mouth for her brand. To me, she is in a fashion league of own and she proved it once more. It was a pity that she played only one match, as I was curious to see what else she had prepared part of the EleVen 2011 fall collection.

Maria Sharapova - NIKE Maria Sharapova Group

Another fashion Diva, who even has her own Nike line, is Maria Sharapova. For whatever reason though, I wasn’t impressed by her New York pieces. They look overly elaborated, too athletic and the gown she wore during the night session lacks the sophistication and elegance required by the occasion. 

Victoria Azarenka - NIKE

Serena Williams - NIKE

Julia Goerges - NIKE

Rafael Nadal - NIKE Rafa Ace

From the Nike selection, I loved Azarenka’s dress nevertheless. It’s simple, but not boring and the blue & black mix proved an inspired decision under the shiny New York lights. Applying the same rationale, I liked Serena’s blue dress. However, I am not a fan of her alternative garment, as I find the pink-black mixture tiresome. Also, the American should broaden her colour pallet and move away from the pink to which she comes back every two collections. Adding to the Nike’s prestige is Nadal’s yellow T-shirt. Again, an excellent colour choice to match the Flushing Meadows ambiance.

Kimiko Date-Krumm - AdiPure

Maria Kirilenko - AdiPure

There weren't any novelties as far as the AdiPure attire was concerned, both Maria Kirilenko and Kimiko Date-Krumm wearing a different colour version of the clothes they showcased since earlier this season. The Russian looks great in anything though, so a big plus to have her as the ambassador for your brand.

Caroline Wozniacki - Adidas by Stella McCartney

A big sigh of relief went out when Caroline Wozniacki finally decided to put the Hawaiian raffles away. Although it’s not comparable with the dress she wore last year, the white Stella McCartney outfit marks a big improvement.

Gisela Dulko - LACOSTE

Samantha Stosur - LACOSTE

A rather dull competitor on the fashion glamland, Lacoste got back in the game with their fall collection featuring these cool geometric black-white-purple dresses.

Svetlana Kuznetsova - FILA

Svetlana Kuznetsova wore one of the new inspired Fila costumes. She usually has a rather messy style, seriously lacking any fashion sense. Nevertheless, I kinda liked the dark version (i.e. right) of her colourful deux-piece.

Nadia Petrova - ELLESSE

Nadia Petrova ended up on a list after wearing a surprisingly decently looking Ellesse dress. This is far better than anything I saw from the Russian since she teamed up with this sponsor. Compared with the horrible raffles she showcased these past months, this colorful dress is actually a pretty inspired choice. Well done Nadia!

Bethanie Mattek-Sands - UnderArmour

Bethanie Mattek-Sands' Under Armour outfit provided something to remind us we are on American soil. Mattek-Sands opted for an ingenious pair of socks made the resemble her national flag. Another daring fashion statement from Bethanie who has made a name for herself as the Lady Gaga wannabe of tennis.

Gael Monfils - K-Swiss

Jelena Jankovic - ANTA

Melanie Oudin - Wilson

Elena Baltacha - Yonex

Yellow was one of the hot colours of the Open, with many players opting to wear it. If Gael Monfils and Rafael Nadal's garments had only some touches, Jelena Jankovic and Elena Baltacha selected an all yellow dress, while Melanie Oudin played with a yellow-white combination.

photos (top-down / left-right): GETTY IMAGES (x32), Fotki