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In the Pink. Vera Zvonareva ♥s K-Swiss Spring Fashion.

WTA player Vera Zvonareva (RUS) showed off some of K-Swiss' upcoming Spring 2010 tennis collection at the Australian Open. Great run there by-the-way. Pictured here she is wearing the New K-Swiss Shell Tank in raspberry rose and white, $40 USD, and Pleated Skirt, $55 in white (it is a skort). Both come in multiple alternate colors and are made of KWICK DRI poly/spandex performance fabric that offers 40+ UV protection.

Also in the group is this cheery raspberry rose halter dress (also in white), $75 -- there are some thin anchor style straps down the back for security under motion. Take a look also at the new 3 1/2" inseam Shortie Short, $30 in black-- I'm spotting this style with tight fitting tops on teen girls who have no body issues and loads of confidence. They are super short but look pretty darn good on these players.

These pink themed outfits would look great with the new CVFC Warm up Jacket, $75 and Pant, $60 spandex french terry in white -- the zip front hoodie has a pink lining. Fresh!

Find it all soon at K-Swiss and Tennis-Warehouse.

MyTennisNetwork.com Moves into New England. Tennisidentity.com to Provide Tennis Apparel and Gear Content for National Roll-Out.

MyTennisNetwork.com has announced its move into the New England region in a next step towards providing organizational resources to competitive junior tennis players across the United States. The site has chosen Tennisidentity.com as its apparel and gear content provider.

MyTennisNetwork.com is a subscription-based website dedicated to the organization and development of all aspects of junior tennis in America including tournaments, player development and funding. Now in addition to the U.S.T.A.'s Tennislink, the thousands of U.S.T.A. registered junior players age 10-18 have MyTennisNetwork to help organize their U.S.T.A. tournament schedules.

MyTennisNetwork launched in early 2009 and has been operating in the entire Southern Section of the U.S. for a year. It moves today into New England in a next step towards a 2010 national roll-out.

Junior players (and parents of) rejoice! MyTennisNetwork streamlines the organizational side of the game by offering advanced USTA tournament search, email and mobile phone reminders about sign up closings and weather delays, up to date consolidated ranking lists, and a personal tournament planning calendar. Junior players now have access to USTA tournament details, auto fill medical release forms, maps, directions, shopping, restaurant, camp/academy directories, and special travel deals all in one place.

"The site has been very well received by tennis families who have been overwhelmed by tournament planning, especially those with multiple tennis playing children," says Louise Fahys, founder of MyTennisNetwork and mother of three young competitors. Site users can also access player profiles and links to photography and videos that have been taken at tournaments.

My Tennis Network's alliance with Tennisidentity.com allows the busy junior competitor the chance to check out what’s abuzz on tennis courts around the world. Tournament juniors are juggling school, privates, practice, travel, tournaments and social time. Although hungry tennis consumers they have little time to source gear outside of their immediate tennis circle. If their pro has a contract with a racquet manufacturer, for example, they might not be encouraged to try other brands. The easy access of the Tennisidentity feed through the MyTennisNetwork site will enable these aspiring players to see the range of products and styles available from all brands and manufacturers while they plan their tournament schedules.

I personally have found planning and signing up for junior tournaments an onerous task and have been excited about the help MyTennisNetwork offers. My favorite aspects of the new service? The online calendar and email reminders. No more 11:45 pm sign ups for me. Now if only someone could do the traveling too.

Visit MyTennisNetwork to learn more. A subscription is $50 a year or $4.99 a month. A free account allows access to portions of the site.

Junior players/parents in the following states can now access U.S.T.A. tournament info through MyTennisNetwork: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. At this time players in other states can visit the site but cannot  plan tournaments in their region.  I'll keep you posted as the network rolls-out. It'll be soon!

 

Babolat Introduces New RPM Blast Tennis String. Nadal, Tsonga and Roddick are Converts.

Babolat announces the launch of a new tennis string, RPM Blast. Used since the Australian Open by Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the black string marked with the white “double-line” is already generating a lot of buzz on and off the courts.

RPM Blast (Revolutions Per Minute) is a monofilament string that gives players more spin, more power and a unique feel at ball impact. “With this new string, I have more spin, and it helps me hit deeper..." explains Rafael Nadal.

As for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who joined the Babolat team on January 1, he won his first competition in Kooyong before reaching the semi-finals at Melbourne with the RPM Blast string. “...I’ve never played with a string like this before,” said the #1 French player.

Andy Roddick converted his trial to a victory at the Brisbane tournament. Andy uses RPM Blast in a hybrid combination with Babolat VS Natural Gut for even more power.

“The advice and recommendations of Tour players have been decisive in the development of the string,” adds Cécile Gindre, String Products Manager at Babolat. “The combination of the high-density material and a specific coating gives it both power and spin.”

RPM Blast will be available starting April 2010 in 17 and 16 gauge. MSRP $16.95.

Learn more at Babolat or find it soon at Tennis-Warehouse.

Nadal's style? Click HERE.

Fresh and Fetch-ing. New Spring Tennis Fashion from...Fetch

What would tennistas do if the big guns were the only fashion choices in town? Some women simply must serve up fab "did you see that" fashion know-how on court daily. Yes, I know you're out there.

Fetch Sport debuted its first tennis line last year and now rolls out its newest Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. Two of my favs include: top left, the 31" Monaco Tennis Dress with dip dye yellow mid section, scoop neck with cross back straps (shelf bra), $120. Top right, the vibrant Lilly Sport tennis blouse with side zip and raw edged hem, $60. This would look really cute with Fetch's low waisted Sassy Court Skirt. The fabrics are all stylishly cut 88% Perfo-tek Nylon/12% Spandex for performance and comfort. There are a few color choices in each style.

Fashion editors tend to diss tennis attire that doesn't fit the classic, old-world vision. I love that look myself but honestly it is so tiresome to wear classic whites day after day. Tennistas play a lot and want to turn heads.

Fetch adds edgy sass to the sport's apparel without being super crazy about it. Judging from initial market reaction, Fetch is considered fun to wear and well...worth fetching.

Learn more or find it at Fetch Sport and late March at Tennis-Warehouse.

How Fast Can YOU Serve? The Answer is One Mobile Download Away.

According to The Bud Collins History of Tennis, Andy Roddick belted a 155 mph serve at Vladmir Voltchkov during the 2004 Davis Cup semi-final. Curious about your own serve? The answer is a download away.

 Speedhero, is a new mobile app that turns your mobile phone into a sports radar. Share your results on Facebook or on the Speedhero site for a little competitive fun.

Select your distance (39 feet -- the distance from the baseline to the net), place the mobile phone within range and you're ready to start speed shooting. You will need to serve against a wall or curtain in order to generate the impact sound. Mark the height of the net on the wall with tape. Our tester John recorded a high of 128 mph.

Speedhero uses algorithms and your phone's microphone to detect the impact sounds of your contact with the ball and the ball's impact on a wall/curtain. Using a sport specific flight time dynamic formula, the app instantly calculates your top speed. Because the impact sound comes from the wall and not the court/service box, spin is not taken into consideration. A very cheap and pretty fun alternative to a pricey gun.

Cost: $8.80 USD. Visit Speedhero for more info.

Think You Can Hang With the Pros? Here's Your Chance To Play Tennis in the U.S. Open.

So hot shot, you think you're U.S. Open worthy? Here's your chance to show the world what you've got.

The U.S.T.A. has announced the launch of the U.S. Open National Playoffs, providing the opportunity for ALL tennis players 14 and older to attempt to earn a wild card into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament August 24-27.

The Playoffs will begin with 16 sectional qualifying tournaments held throughout the country from April-June 2010. The men's and women's champions from each of the sectionals will then advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs -- Men's and Women's Championships, which will be held in conjunction with the Olympus U.S. Open Series tournaments this summer.

There will be no required tennis qualifications and no seeding or age breakdowns so there are certain to be a few blow outs in the early rounds. The $125 USD entry fee should sort out those without a lot of confidence in their game.

"..We expect the draws to be filled with top junior players, collegians, teaching pros and even recreational players..." said Jim Curley, Chief Professional Tournaments Officer and U.S. Open Tournament Director.

Skier Bode Miller, two-time World Cup Champion, two-time silver medalist and three-time world champion has already thrown his name into the draw. "Tennis has always been a part of my life," said Miller who won the Maine state singles title for Carrabassett Valley Academy in 1996 and whose family owns Tamarack Tennis Camp in Easton, NH. "I look forward to playing..."

Find entry details and a schedule of Regional Tournaments at USOpen.Org DREAM BIG. Registration begins February 1. Go for it!

Image of Bode Miller: Getty Images

On Acid Buzz and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. More spring/summer adidas for men.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is on a roll at the Australian. Next round he meets the big man on campus, RF. Keep it up dude.

Pictured here Tsonga wears his adidas' spring/summer 2010 kit: the Competition Seamless Tee in acid buzz, $52 (it also comes in teal and white) and Competition Bermuda Shorts in white, $45. Both are made with Climacool/Formotion. His shoes are the Barricade V, $110.  Size up on the shirt if you like a loose fit.

Tsonga's racquet at the AO? The Babolat Aeropro Drive. (not pictured here).

This is one of my men's style favs at the tourney. Clean and simple with just the right amount of jazz -- no fuss, made to move. Tsonga is working it nicely.

Find it at: adidas Tennis and Tennis-Warehouse.

Novak Djokovic Debuts His Sergio Tacchini Tennis Line at the AO.

Sergio Tacchini's first line for Novak Djokovic,"Flame," derives its name from the graphic's fiery trail that is said to symbolize attitude and natural power. The design is in red (Djokovic's favorite color) on all colors of the group, white, shaded grey and black. He wore the black top and bottom nights in Australia. The polo hosts a small Serb flag and Novak is printed on the back of the shorts.

The Italian line is made of S.TECH patented fabric that maximizes breathability and comfort, stretchy and soft, with mesh inserts in the polo and an inner-leg gusset for ease of movement. A tracksuit and hoodie round out the on-court Flame line.

Off-court wear includes a cotton tee with Djokovic's face and nickname "Novache." He wore the crew pictured above during the Hit for Haiti fundraiser in the early hours of the Australian Open.

Available in February 2010. Price TBD. Visit Sergio Tacchini or Tennis-Warehouse.

Na Li on Cruise Control. The Love Game Tank and Skort from Nike.

Na Li of China has been wearing this two piece set in Australia and Wednesday she actually did serve up a love game or two (much to Venus William's dismay).

Pictured left on Li is the new Nike Women's Cruise Love Game Tank, $60 and Cruise Love Game Skort, $60. The top is white with sapphire blue, the bottom dark obsidian with accents of sapphire.

The Cruise Collection also offers skorts in blue sapphire or white and a top in sapphire (inset pic) if you prefer a more of a monochromatic line. I would prefer it myself personally. A white skort would be much more slimming for the rec gal with the white top. I would also like the sapphire set -- To each her own however. Na needs no assistance in slimming and her choices coordinate nicely with her racquet.

The top has a built in bra with cups for modesty -- no worries on chilly days. Mesh panels insure ventilation.

Li plays with the Babolat Pure Drive Cortex. Her shoes are the Air Zoom Mystify.

Buy at Nike or Tennis-Warehouse.

The Prestige Racquet is Reborn. HEAD launches New YOUTEK Prestige Series.

HEAD has given its legendary Prestige tennis racquet a modern day boost with its newest technology, YOUTEK (the technology was actually introduced last year in the HEAD Speed and Radical series). Stanislas Wawrinka and Tommy Haas have been using the new Prestige racquets during the Australian Open. Gilles Simon is also a convert.

"YOUTEK can actually sense the needs of the tennis player during different shots to perfectly match your game," said Roger Petersman, senior business manager of tennis racquets for HEAD Penn Racquet Sports. The technology incorporates d3o in the racquet shaft.

d3o is a smart material which dynamically changes its behavior under loading or impact. The upgrade is said to provide a softer touch and better feel on slow speed impacts like slices and drop shots and stiffness necessary to create power on high speed impacts such as serves and passing shots. Sounds interesting ehh?

The Prestige series includes the Prestige Pro, Prestige Mid and Prestige Mid Plus (pictured here). All are MSRP $225 USD. The Prestige Mid Plus (or MP) is the choice of Wawrinka, Simon and Haas.

As usual take some time to look over the specs including weight, head size, string pattern and more to find the racquet that best suits your game and style of play.

Learn more about the racquets or find a retailer at HEAD or test drive and buy at Tennis-Warehouse.