Grand Slam fashion is my specialty here on Women’s Tennis Blog and through the years the US Open has always invited the most glamorous and unique designs, while this fortnight in New York we’re enjoying the most spectacular tennis fashion showdown we’ve had in recent history.
Even though we’re missing Serena Williams, who’s giving birth to her first child as I’m posting this, and Victoria Azarenka, who’s battling for custody of her son Leo, we don’t have shortage of outstanding fashion stories, as sports apparel giants Nike and Adidas have both pleasantly surprised us, the former by partnering with Italian designer Riccardo Tisci and the latter by joining forces with musician Pharrell Williams.
Playing her first US Open since returning from the doping ban, Maria Sharapova honored the occasion with super glamorous and pricey Swarovski-studded black lace dress designed by Riccardo Tisci for Nike. The Russian wanted to balance the ultra elegant dress with masculine energy of a bomber jacket that is billowy in the back. If you want to replicate the look, sans shoes (!), you’ll need to break the bank, as the dress + the jacket cost $1200.
The 2006 US Open champion accompanied her stylish appearance with her awe-inspiring fighting spirit which got her through a very though opener against world No.2 Simona Halep, so we were also lucky to see the day version of the dress, that Masha paired with black sleeves. Getting to the court, the 30-year-old carried her racquets in her well-known Head Sharapova Series Court Bag, a sleek design in a timeless, neutral palette.
Petra Kvitova and Madison Keys promote new NikeCourt separates, standing out with a prism print inspired by the US Open lights, and the extended compression shorts that offer added comfort and coverage. The Nike Fall Slam NYC Tank and the Nike Fall NYC Skort are meant to be paired with a red speed-oriented shoe model called the Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour.
Genie Bouchard rocked the ultra light Nike Fall Slam NYC Dress, but her performance couldn’t match her good looks, as the Canadian lost already in the first round, failing to make it past the second round of her last eight tournaments.
In a surprising cooperation with rapper Pharrell Williams, Adidas made a ‘70s style collection that is all about vintage color-blocks and engineered knitwear noticed at a closer look. Many players sport the Climacool-equipped collection, including the French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and second-ranked Simona Halep, while my favorite promoter of the Adidas Pharrell NY Tank and its matching navy pleated skort is Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who shocked defending champion Angelique Kerber in the first round. Osaka’s complexion and lively hair make every outfit look extra awesome and I also love how she pairs her Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 3 Pharrell Shoes with tube socks.
Mentioning Kerber, the German wore the Adidas Pharrell NY Colorblock Dress during her short-lived US Open campaign.
Garbine Muguruza is also wearing the Pharrell Williams line, in particular a wonderfully engineered dress from the statement collection by Adidas Originals.
Caroline Wozniacki‘s Adidas Stella McCartney New York Dress is characterized by a seamless construction, fabric mix and lengthwise wave enhanced by a lovely combination of core red and shock pink. The Dane’s aSMC Barricade look is completed by Adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 Shoes, that have Boost capsules inserted under the heel for explosive energy return and cushioning.
Working separates from the Adidas by Stella McCartney family is Andrea Petkovic, in particular the radiant orange body-hugging New York Tank and the New York Skirt, both equipped with cooling Climalite technology.
Karolina Pliskova leads the pack of players wearing Fila’s new Heritage collection refreshed with soft hues of diva pink and mint, while staying true to the company’s recognized aesthetic by keeping the color navy in the mix. The world No.1 fights through the draw in the UV-protective Fila Fall Heritage V-Neck Tank and Fila Fall Heritage Colorblock Skirt.
Jelena Jankovic was sent packing at the onset of the tournament, but unlike her US Open performance, the Serb’s Fila Fall Heritage Print Dress exuded cheerfulness and liveliness.
Venus Williams is making her 19th career appearance at the US Open in the EleVen Epiphany collection: the Epiphany Pendulum Dress, featuring stone contrast asymmetric neck and waist insets, and the Epiphany Visor.
Agnieszka Radwanska brings a tropical vibe with her pink Lotto Flamiflower Dress and its flamingos peeking through vegetation of an exotic island.
Like a lot of their colleagues, Lacoste‘s Alize Cornet, Dominika Cibulkova and Christina McHale went for color-blocks, only that their Fall Tennis Dress combines just the traditional colors of white, red and blue, and in a simplistic manner, yet the outcome is a modern, stylish and sophisticated look.
American qualifier Nicole Gibbs produced a major threat to last year’s runner-up Karolina Pliskova in the second round, all the while looking fabulous in the striped New Balance Fall Akhurst Tank and navy mesh shorts.
Sergio Tacchini‘s Ekaterina Makarova eliminated the fifth-seeded Wozniacki in the Stardust Tank Top, featuring graphic detailing dripping from the V-neck, and the Stardust Skort.
The 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova opted for a combination of black and vibrant yellow in her Qiaodan ensemble.
Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic recorded a sensational victory over seventh seed Johanna Konta on Day 1, looking really cute in her printed blue and yellow Mizuno dress, a brand that’s increasing its presence in the women’s tennis world.
Blue-eyed Julia Goerges is a perfect match with Asics‘ new arctic aqua tank and pleated skort, while Johanna Konta, the company’s highest-ranked representative, wore the Asics Fall Athlete Dress, which I had already written about during Coco Vandeweghe’s run to the final in Stanford.
Puerto Rican Monica Puig was as stylish as ever in her ‘80s-inspired striped blue Ellesse Fall 2017 dress, which is unfortunately available only on the Japanese market.
In the beginning I covered Nike in detail, but I’d also like to add Ajla Tomljanovic‘s red sporty outfit. The Croatia-born Australian tucked her Nike Fall Breathe Tank in the micro-pleated Nike Fall Maria Flex Shorts in such a way that the ensemble seems to be a jumpsuit and I totally dig this look.
Germany’s Dinah Pfizenmaier sported Bidi Badu‘s 3-in-1 Phoebe Tech Dress, which greatly reminds of Serena Williams’ Nike dress from the 2016 US Open.
Still new in competitive tennis after an 11-month injury layoff, Sloane Stephens has already claimed the scalps of 2015 runner-up Roberta Vinci and seed No.11 Dominika Cibulkova, all the while looking as fresh and as vibrant as always in her peach Under Armour dress.
Now that I’ve given you an in-depth overview of WTA fashion at the US Open, tell me which outfits are your favorites. Are you glad to see Sharapova reintroducing haute couture to the tennis courts? How do you grade Pharrell Williams’ partnership with Adidas? Who’s your No.1 best-dressed player?
I think that’s everyone looked great this year. The ones that stood out were obviously Osaka because of what you pointed out about her and the style she chose with the tube socks. I also liked the look on Ostapenko, her youthful look makes this outfit great and traditional. Maria was by far the best evident by the price! But she rocked the look and it was great to see her back. I haven’t been exposed to Agas dress since her matches haven’t been primarily on tv but from this column the dress looks great and the risk payed off. My least favorite is Nike looks they aren’t bad but they just seem very bland despite the prism print. Nike tennis in 2017 has been primarily added probs to their looks from 2016 and I hope 2018 brings more risks and styles that will put Nike back on top. Adidas by Stella McCartney brought out a nice paler of colors but it was obviously not given much exposure now that Caro is out of the tournament.
I don’t think Maria’s dress is so great – it looks messy with the bra under the lace inserts and the crystals are over the top for a sports dress. My favourites are the Pharrell Williams and Stella Adidas styles, the Lacoste and the Asics. I also like the Nike which I don’t usually. Sloane and Venus ok too, the others not so much. Radwanska’s dress looks like she should be at a holiday resort, not playing tennis!
My Top 4
1. Maria night dress
2. Muguruza dress
3. Kerber dress
4. Bouchard and Ajla dress
Not only is Naomi sporting the tube socks, but Garbi is as well. I give a slight nod to Osaka’s dress over Muguruza’s. Quite frankly I like Dominic Thiem’s colorful Pharrell Williams kit best of all. BTW which of these ladies will be seen out with Domi? Kiki Mladenovic was in his players box in Cincinnati…I saw that personally.
Though I think most of the clothes for both men and women are cute, I find it really annoying when two competitors across the net from each other are wearing the same clothes. I’m watching Vesnina and Keys, both in the same look, as did Federer and his opponent earlier. . I wonder if the sponsors are providing fewer choices. I don’t remember this being so noticeable in past years.
Nathan C, Osaka has always been my favorite in Adidas and I’m glad that she made headlines during this US Open. I really like Kvitova’s and Keys’ Nike look, I don’t find it bland at all. As for Maria, many people commented that her dress has too much of everything, but I find it stunning, it’s so Maria and so right for the US Open, and I’ve heard people not even into tennis that much complementing the dress and being amazed by it.
Jim, you think Kiki and Dominic are dating? Could be, I saw some pics of them together. Actually, Kiki herself posted them on Twitter.
Carolann Bennett, that has been happening for years, especially with Nike and Adidas, since they sponsor most players. I generally don’t mind it, but imagine if 1/4 of the tournament wore Lotto’s flowers lol.
I don’t think sharapova’s dress is anything special (certainly can’t imagine anyone spending hundreds of dollars on it) but it looks plain trashy to wear a black bra under the light pink color dress.
The Stella McCartney stuff is the best. Too bad almost no one is wearing it!
I think I love all designs this year except for Aga’s. They could have done better.
Im a little dissapointed in Maria’s dress, cause over the years, her day and night dresses were usually 2 completely different designs, now this year its the same design with different colors (like serena, nadal, federer). They shouldve kept the tradition for Maria, Nike shouldve really made 2 different dresses for Maria for he US OPEN…
Maria Sharapova is always stunning.