Tennis Fashion Fix: French Open 2012 - Victoria Azarenka

Everyone will be watching this dress at the 2012 French Open because everyone will be watching its wearer - Victoria Azarenka. Since Vika is coming into Roland Garros as the WTA's No. 1 ranked tennis player and as the reigning Australian Open champ, she is expected to go deep into the French Open draw. So all eyes will be on this dress.

And its pretty cute. Vika will be wearing Nike's Summer Statement dress in Fruit Punch (pink) with Scarlet Fire (dark pink) piping at the neckline and a sweet little Orange Chalk (light orange) ruffle at the hem. Here's a closer look:

I'm betting this dress would be flattering to just about any figure because the empire waist design means it won't be too snug around the hips. Of course, it will look great on Vika since she is super-model tall at 6 feet. But it might look cute on me too even though I'm just 5' 4". I may go try it on just to see if its worth the $80 price tag.



© Kim Selzman 2012 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fixation's 2012 Australian Open Wrap-Up

I'm exhausted. Every Grand Slam final I watch lately is an incredible "instant classic" (to borrow a catch phrase from ESPN). Watching the longest Grand Slam men's singles final in the Open era yesterday just about killed me. And I have no idea how those guys did that. In the last two sets, I went back and forth on who I thought was winning because both players looked totally spent at different points in the match. In the end, Novak Djokovic somehow pulled it off. Congratulations to him on winning the 2012 Australian Open - I have a feeling he's off to another incredible year.

And congratulations also to Victoria Azarenka on winning the women's singles final by beating Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0. With her win, Azarenka not only gets her first Grand Slam but she takes over the women's No. 1 spot. I feel like I kind of called this one (on Twitter or Facebook or something - I can't remember). Here's a pic of the new No. 1:

Finally, I can't leave the Australian Open without noting the winners of this year's mixed doubles championships - Romanian Horia Tecau and - surprise! - American Bethanie Mattek-Sands! Here's a cute shot of the champs:

You know I've been a fan of Bethanie for quite some time (just see this post: Happy Birthday Bethanie Mattek-Sands!) and that Under Armor eye black (I think its UA) is the reason why.

What's up next? The French Open begins in April! Hopefully we can make it until then.


Image of Novak Djokovic by AFP/Getty, image of Victoria Azarenka by Reuters, image of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau by Getty Images



© Kim Selzman 2012 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fashion Fix: Australian Open 2012 - Keep Your Eye On Victoria Azarenka

Wow! Victoria Azarenka is hot! Both her tennis and her outfit are already sizzling down under.

Let's start with her tennis. On Sunday, she won the 2012 Sydney International, taking out defending champ Li Na - 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Then, she rushed over to Melbourne, took the court this morning and won her first 2012 Australian Open match - beating Great Britain's Heather Watson 6-1, 6-0. And here's the most impressive part of this feat - Azarenka won 12 games in a row in that match. Which means - Watson probably served the first game, won her serve, and then lost the next 12 games. Kind of disheartening for Watson. But what a start for Vika (as she's known)!

I think Azarenka will go far this year - last year she made it all the way to the 4th round. And, as you may recall, the runner up in last year's Australian Open was Li Na, who ultimately lost to Kim Clijsters. So maybe the stars are finally lining up for Azarenka to win her first Slam. (Want to impress your tennis pals with your WTA trivia? Vika is from Belarus - the highest ranked woman to ever come out of that country.)

Whatever, right? Because how cute is her outfit? When I saw the pic above showing her slamming a forehand at Heather, all I could think is how much I love those little slashes up the side of her top. This is the Nike "Spring Tie-Break Graphic Tank" and those aren't actual slashes but a print that looks that way. It comes in "Mega Blue" with white, and white with blue or gray accents. This is part of Nike's Spring Group which also includes this cute t-shirt that I'm sure no one will be wearing during their actual Aussie Open match but you might see on the practice courts:

I had to include that - too cute. My only question to Nike - why "Zero"? I assume anyone who wears this will be a tennis player and we never say Zero - we always say Love. Anyway, I still like it.

I also wanted you to see Azarenka and Watson as they posed with a young fan before their match:

 

Azarenka is wearing the Spring Rally 3/4 Sleeve Top (part of the Spring Group), highlighted by a pretty boat neck, in the Mega Blue. Watson is also adorable in her K-Swiss outfit. Maybe we'll see more of that on some other players as the tournament progresses.




First image of Victoria Azarenka by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images, t-shirt image via www.tenniswarehouse.com and Nike, image of Victoria Azarenka and Heather Watson by Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia



© Kim Selzman 2012 All Rights Reserved

US Open Series: Week 5

The countdown to the U.S. Open continues as we enter Week 5 of the Olympus U.S. Open Series. Here's what I thought was interesting last week:

• Maria Kirilenko and Victoria Azarenka won in doubles at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati Ohio, beating doubles specialists Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs. I thought that was pretty impressive since Azarenka is not known for being all that great at doubles.
• Azarenka now moves into a tie for 4th place in the women's U.S. Open Series standings with Svetlana Kuznetsova and behind Maria Sharapova in 1st place, Kim Clijsters in 2nd and Agnieszka Radwanska in 3rd. Yes, that's right - Maria Sharapova is currently in 1st!
• Andy Murray leads on the men's side with David Nalbandian at 2nd (!) and Roger Federer in a 3-way tie for 3rd with Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey (!!!).
• Bethanie Mattek-Sands is blogging about the U.S. Open Series for USA Today. I love Bethanie so this should be good! Click on this post to see what she's got to say: Tattoos, tennis, sky-high heels: Behind scenes on WTA Tour.

The Series continues this week with the men moving onto Cincinnati for the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and the women in Montreal for the Rogers Cup. Here's the Week 5 TV schedule:

Tuesday, 8/17/10
1-9 pm – Men, Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, Cincinnati, Ohio, Tennis Channel

Wednesday, 8/18/10
1-9 pm – Men, Western & Southern, Tennis Channel

Thursday, 8/19/10
12-4 pm – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2
7-9 pm – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2

Friday, 8/20/10
12-4 pm – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2
6-10 pm – Women, Rogers Cup, Montreal, Canada, Tennis Channel
10 pm-12 am – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2

Saturday, 8/21/10
12-2 am – Women, Rogers Cup, ESPN2
2-4 pm – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2
4-6 pm – Women, Rogers Cup, ESPN2
7-9 pm – Men, Western & Southern, ESPN2
9-11 pm – Women, Rogers Cup, Tennis Channel

Sunday, 8/22/10
12- 2 pm – Men, Western & Southern, CBS
3-5 pm – Women, Rogers Cup, ESPN2



Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images


© Kim Selzman 2010 All Rights Reserved

US Open Series: Week 3

The countdown to the U.S. Open is on! Right now, there is plenty of tennis to enjoy as the Olympus U.S. Open Series is being played throughout North America. The goal of the Series is to create a "cohesive, six-week summer tennis season" that leads into the U.S. Open. What a great idea! Top-level players are supposedly interested in playing in the Series because, depending on how well they do at the U.S. Open, they can earn bonus money based on the points they accumulate during the Series. (I think. I started reading the rules but got bored with it. You can read them here: U.S. Open Series Bonus Challenge.)

Week 2 of the Series just finished.  Currently, on the men's side, Mardy Fish and Sam Querry are tied in points for 1st place.  On the women's side, Victoria Azarenka leads.  But there are four more weeks of Series play before the U.S. Open so a lot could change between now and August 30, when the Open begins.

So, I'm sure you're saying, "well, this is all fine and good but what does it have to do with me? Where is the benefit to me and my tennis game in the U.S. Open Series?" The benefit to you and me is that, for the next several weeks, there will be lots of great tennis on TV! You just have to know when and what channel to watch. We're currently in Week 3 of the Series with the men playing the Legg Mason Tennis Classis in Washington, D.C. and the women playing the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego, California. To assist you with your U.S. Open Series watching pleasure, here is the Week 3 TV schedule:

Thursday, 8/5:
4–8 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel

Friday, 8/6:
12–2 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
3–5 pm, Women - Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel
5–7 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
7–9 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
9–11 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
11 pm–3 am, Women - Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2

Saturday, 8/7:
1–3 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
4–6 pm, Women - Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel
7–9 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
10 pm–12 am, Women - Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2

Sunday, 8/8:
3–5 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
5–7 pm, Women - Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2
8–9:30 pm, Men - Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
9:30–11 pm Women - Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel

As long as you're willing to spend your day flipping back and forth between ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel, you'll get lots of great tennis viewing in!



© Kim Selzman 2010 All Rights Reserved

French Open Fashion - Part Deux!

Here's a quick look at more of what the women are wearing in Paris this week. Serena Williams remains in the run for the French Open wearing this orange and charcoal color-block dress in her singles play. I like this dress and think it flatters Serena and would flatter most ordinary tennis-playing women too. But I'm not sure the colors are a good contrast against the reddish orange French clay. Surely the designers at Nike must know what they're doing.





Now, this is the outfit Serena is wearing in her doubles play with sister Venus. Although Venus is out in singles, losing in the third round, she and Serena remain very serious contenders for doubles. And I love Serena's doubles outfit. Separate pieces like this usually work for everyone (dresses seem harder to fit right to me) and the orange and pink is tres cute.






I had to show off what Samantha Stosur is wearing because its a Lacoste outfit and, if you're watching the French Open on the Tennis Channel then you know, Lacoste is inundating us with their commercials featuring Andy Roddick and a bunch of teenage models but no women tennis players. This is a pretty utilitarian look Lacoste has put out. It's actually a dress. And black and white? The fashion models in the commercials are WAY more colorfully dressed. Again, maybe the designers are looking for something to contrast against the clay and stand out on TV. But there's got to be something more interesting than black and white. Stosur also remains in the running, having just taken out Elena Dementieva.






OK, here is Ivanovic in that same dress that I have made clear in previous posts (here and here) that I do not like. But I do like the color and it shows up great against the clay. She is rolling right through her part of the draw and has a great chance of retaining her French Open title.









Finally, I wanted to show the Nike dress worn by Victoria Azarenka who is making a great showing right now. This is exactly the kind of thing I expect from Nike, great colors, lots of criss-crossy straps going on around the shoulders and a flirty skirty detail at the bottom. Of course it looks wonderful on Azarenka who is 6 feet tall. But I like this and am sure it will be a sell-out in the stores.








All images courtesy of Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports

© Kim Selzman 2009
All Rights Reserved