Oh Girl, You've Left Me Speechless...

For me, the biggest story of this year's Roland Garros was the defeat of world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the hands of Slovak Daniela Hantuchova. Hantuchova was been a decent top 15 players for years now, but I was shocked to see her destroy the young Dane so early in the tournament. Wozniacki was completely outplayed in her third round match, having found herself 6-1, 4-0 down at one point. She suddenly remembered she tops the women's ranking and put in a bit of a fight. She reduced the deficit to 4-3 and her fans were beginning to hope for a spectacular turnaround. Daniela hang on in there though, winning the next two games, thus sending Caroline crashing out. She became the third Slovak to succumb a reigning world number 1 and the second to do so this year, Dominika Cibulkova getting the better of Wozniacki in Sydney.

It was definitely a bad day at the office for the young Dane. She seemed out of sorts, unfocused and her game was derailed. Though such things happen and are part of tennis, it is really unfortunate if they happen during a Grand Slam. Especially during this Grand Slam, as this Roland Garros in particular was Caroline's chance of adding the elusive Grand Slam to her resume. In the absence of the Williams sisters and Dinara Safina and with the disappointing defeats on Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic and Julia Goerges so early in the draw, the Dane was many people's first pick for the Suzanne Lenglen cup. Moreover, the odds appeared to be on her side when she collected her first red clay title in Brussels just a week before, indicating she has made a menace with her least favourite surface.

If there is an adjective to describe Caroline's game, that's consistency. She has made a name for herself by winning almost every tournament she enters. And by looking at her busy schedule, this feat is quite impressive. Nevertheless, she seems to struggle in the Slams. Besides the US Open final in 2009 and the semis at the last two Slams (i.e. US Open 2010 and Melbourne 2011) her performances are quite poor. Her loss to Hantuchova, a player she beat in all three previous meetings, marks yet another missed opportunity.  I really envisioned a Wozniacki-Azarenka final, as these are the players who, alongside Julia Goerges and Petra Kvitova, dominated the clay court season.

Although she will retain her spot at the top of the rankings, her setback will only add on to the controversy around her world number 1 position. With Wimbledon just around the corner, Caroline ought to come out swinging, as the only way of putting the matter at rest is by capturing a Grand Slam trophy.

photo: Reuters

Magnificent Gisela Ends Stosur's Dreams

The fact that Samantha Stosur is struggling this year is no surprise to anyone. However, I think that many were expecting her to recapture the brilliance and to shine once more on the Parisian clay. For the last two seasons the Aussie was red-hot at Roland Garros, making her first Slam semifinal in 2009 before reaching the final last year. She was genuinely impressive in 2010 when she defeated the best players in the world, i.e. ‘Claycourt Queen’ Justine Henin, world number 1 Serena Williams and former world no.1 Jelena Jankovic, just to fell short in the final to a surprisingly tough Francesca Schiavone.

While last year she dominated the claycourt season, this year her preparation was flawed, the only noteworthy performance being the Rome final, where she lost to Russian Maria Sharapova. Nevertheless, she started her favourite tournament strongly, posing easy victories over Czech Iveta Benesova and Romanian Simona Halep. It didn’t take long though and in her third round clash she run into deep trouble. Her opponent, Argentinean Gisela Dulko who tops the doubles' rankings alongside Italian Flavia Pennetta, is renowned for her claycourt skills. However, having lost the two previous encounters with Stosur on this surface, she seemed like an easy target for the powerful Australian. She started the strongest though, quickly establishing a 5-2 advantage. Samantha fought back, but Gisela hold on to win the first set 6-4. Stosur caught fire, unleashing her most efficient weapons and storming through to a decider after winning the set 6-1. Just when things seemed to be heading her way, Samantha lost the momentum and with it four consecutive games, allowing Gisela to get back into the match. Serving at 5-3, the Argentinean quickly raced to a 40-0 lead and put the matter to rest at the first time of asking. After a convincing display, she has now reached the French Open last 16 for a second time, having made it this far in 2006 when she succumbed to Anna Lena Groenefeld.

This performance comes to capture what has been a relatively good claycourt season for Dulko. After winning in Acapulco, the fourth round of the French Open reconfirms her as one of surface’s most exquisite specialists. For Stosur, the loss marks yet another disappointment. Not being able to defend the last year’s points could cause her the place among the best 10 players in the world.

photo: GETTY IMAGES

Clijsters' Meltdown

She started the week as the main contestant for the Suzanne Lenglen cup. She was sharp and focused in her first round clash and things were going according to plan. It all came tumbling down though, as today Kim Clijsters suffered one of the most shocking loses of her 'second' career.

The Belgian, making a welcomed return to the tour after injuring her angle at her cousin's wedding, was loud and clear about her intention of winning a first French Open title this year, having stumbled in two finals before (i.e. in 2001 she lost to Capriati and in 2003 to Henin). The medical problems impeded her from entering any claycourt tournament before Roland Garros. Even her participation in the French capital was a question mark for a long time, Clijsters struggling to recover from a lengthy time-out. However, she dismissed any worries with a convincing first round display, reassuring everyone that she is back at her best. In her second round match, Kim faced young gun Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands. She was in control for most of the dispute, quickly building on a one set 5-2 advantage. When people were leaving the Philippe Chatrier Court convinced that their favourite made it through to the next round, the inevitable happened. Clijsters' game completely fell apart, the Belgian being able to win only 1 of the next 11 games. She used to go through such lapses before, during the first part of her career. However, after taking time off to start a family, the issue appeared to have been solved. She showed more consistency and kept her cool under pressure. Nevertheless, the problem came back, once in the Australian Open third round in 2010 when she lost 6-0, 6-1 to Nadia Petrova and once this year, in Sydney where she lost the final after holding a 5-0 first set lead.

As she didn't sustain any injury, it's clear that her mind disconnected once more. She got carried away, her mindset was not there anymore and, as the match didn't end when it was supposed to, the competitiveness and focus vanished. Making an astonishing number of enforced errors, her opponent was offered the most important victory of her career. Probably 'victory' is not the most appropriate word, as Clijsters beat herself with her erratic, self-destructive display. Nevertheless Arantxa proved strong enough not to choke under pressure, to take her chances and to win a match that seemed way beyond her reach. For Clijsters, she should put all her efforts into preparing for Wimbledon, a tournament she can easily win.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Un Scoop de la Mode Parisienne

With the French Open getting underway, the tennis elite was quick to showcase its latest outfits. The venue being Paris, la capitale de la mode, many players got inspired. In the absence of the Williams sisters and with Wozniacki insisting to wear the hideous Hawaiian dress, Maria Sharapova stole the show with a bright yellow, sheer Nike dress. There must be something about the Roland Garros, as Sharapova always wears her most remarkable outfits in the French capital. I have heavy criticizes the Russian this year for lowering her fashion standards and allowing herself to wear the same clothes as other tour player. Although I still think she lost her authenticity and thus the uniqueness of her outfits has vanished, the Russian proved she retains her fashionista status. She knows exactly what clothes to pick and how to make a fashion statement. After winning in Rome, Sharapova looks poised to conquer Paris and to complete her Grand Slam collection.

Maria Sharapova - NIKE 'Maria Sharapova' Group

Julia Goerges - NIKE

Kim Clijsters - FILA

Kim Clijsters, probably the best player of the moment, signaled her return from injury with a new look. The cute Belgian looks younger, fresher and completely focused on adding a first Suzanne Lenglen cup to her resume. The interesting thing about her outfit is that, due to the pattern, the blouse blends in perfectly with the clay surface. Although I am not blown away by it, I am enchanted by her overall look. Great to have adorable Kimmie back.

Victoria Azarenka - NIKE

Vera Zvonareva - K-Swiss

Without standing out from the crowd, Victoria Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva are both topping the mainstream Nike, respectively USTA, fields with great looking outfits. While Victoria made some inspired choices this year, managing to always look her utmost best, Zvonareva is yet to climb the highest fashion peaks. After turning around her career with Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, Vera gives signs that she is improving her style too. I really like the K-Swiss apparel and fashion wise, I think she took an inspired decision to switch to the American sponsor.

Ana Ivanovic - AdiZero

Sorana Cirstea - AdiZero

Maria Kirilenko - AdiPure

Andrea Petkovic - AdiPure

There's nothing wrong with Ana's AdiZero dress, except for the fapt that she wore it since the start of the season and I am starting to get a bit tired of it. Of course, it was a different color scheme (i.e. she replaced blue with a hot pink), but she really wanted to up her game, she could've come with some new. Wearing the same garment for half a season (although the colors might differ) is not worthy of a true fashionista. The same applies to Maria Kirilenko and the rest of the AdiPure ambassadors. I am a huge Adidas fan, but they should come up with some new at least on the big occasions.

Petra Kvitova - NIKE

Sabine Lisicki - NIKE

Na Li - NIKE

Tsvetlana Pironkova - LOTTO

Jelena Jankovic - ANTA

Bethanie Mattek-Sands - UnderArmour

As usually though, not everyone was that inspired. The Nike outfits wore by Lisicki, Kvitova or Li for example were a completely mishit with that horrible orange/ pink mismatch, while Tsvetlana Pironkova looked cheap and cheesy in her strawberry, 'fancy wannabe' top. At least these two players wore what their sponsors gave them. It wasn't the case for fashionistas disasters Jelena Jankovic and Bethanie Mattek-Sands who continue to present to us the rough outcome of their styleless creativity. While Jankovic proudly introduced us with the pink version of her 'spring' dress, Bethanie, proving to be a one-trick pony, wore her trademark knee high socks and coal miner make-up.

Roger Federer - NIKE 'Roger Federer' Group

On the men's side, Roger Federer was back to his fashion best. After getting rid of the dull T-shirt he wore lately, the Swiss Master is once again elevating his style with a great carmine T-shirt and a matching jacket. A plus for the retro element of his outfit.
French duo of Gael Monfils and Jo Wilfried Tsonga wore dynamic outfits to match their volcanic personalities. While Monfils dared the partisan home crowds in vivid purple, Tsonga kept to his usual green. The dark tone of their skins contrasts very well bold colours, so the Frenchmen proved inspired once more. Compared to the rest of the player, they provide the fashion salt & pepper that the ATP tour needs.

Gael Monfils - K-Swiss

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - AdiZero

photos (top-down / left-right):  GETTY IMAGES (x4), AP (x3), GETTY IMAGES (x14)

Tennis Moods Style: Maria Kirilenko by Stella McCartney

Maria Kirilenko is probably one of the most underrated players on the WTA tour. A prominent junior who won the US Open title in 2002, the Russian was always overshadowed by her more famous compatriots after turning pro. It is true that Kirilenko is yet to match the performances of her fellow Russian women (i.e. Kuznetsova, Myskina, Dementieva or Sharapova), but her game definitely hints that success is within her reach. Maybe she is a late bloomer. Nowadays, after Schiavone's magical run at the 2010 Roland Garros, nothing seems impossible anymore.

However, if when it comes to tennis Maria might be an easy target, when it comes to fashion Maria puts in a fierce fight. It all started at the 2006 Australian Open, when the young Russian became the face of Adidas by Stella McCartney. This collaboration put her on the map, generating media fuzz and ensuring everyone's attention. It marked the perfect blend of good-looks, charm, appropriate fabrics and great clothes. For me, during this period, the Russian was the best dressed tennis player in the world. She might have benefited from the services of a  renowned fashion designer, but her overall fashionista demeanor surely played a utterly important part. Being a shy, introvert personality, Kirilenko didn't like to brag too much about her looks and tried to focus on her game. This probably cost her the deal in the end, as young gun Dane Caroline Wozniacki stole the spotlight in late 2009. 

These three years can be regarded as a successful recipe as the McCartney clothes perfectly reflected Maria's inner self. Though not spectacular, just simple cuts and a rather pale colour palette, the pieces had a bit of edge, were unique, classy and wearable. Kirilenko looked adorable in them, resembling a genuine tennis princess. However, now, after losing her throne, the Russian faces a tough challenge to retain her status. She is still the cute, lovable girl, but the regular Adidas clothing she is forced to wear don't do her much justice. The spark was lost, I just hope she can regain it.

The 2006 Collection

@Australian Open 2006

@Warsaw 2006

@Roland Garros 2006

@Wimbledon 2006

@Los Angeles 2006

@New Haven 2006

@US Open 2006

@Beijing 2006

The 2007 Collection

@Australian Open 2007

@Miami 2007

@Roland Garros 2007

@Wimbledon 2007

@Stanford 2007

@US Open 2007

The 2008 Collection

@Australian Open 2008

@Miami 2008

@Roland Garros 2008

@Montreal 2008

@Tokyo Pan Pacific 2008

@Korean Open 2008

@Moscow 2008

The 2009 Collection

@Australian Open 2009

@Dubai 2009

@Miami 2008

@Madrid 2009

@Roland Garros 2009

@Wimbledon 2009

photos:  GETTY IMAGES