TennisIDENTITY

What's next for Roddick?

Last year he wore all black. We thought it looked pretty darn good but it didn't help a win. This year it was a different color and a different ending. Andy Roddick earned his first title of the season by defeating Radek Stepanek in the SAP Open final Sunday. This time he chose classic whites; comfortable, loose and cool.

Pictured here are some of the pieces you will see him in next. The top is the LACOSTE super dry polo with shoulder piping ($95 U.S.D.) -- available April 1; the shorts are LACOSTE diamante drawstring shorts, $85; and the LACOSTE trucker cap of the same name, $55.

Get Andy's look online at shopapparel.lacoste.com.

Image: Ron C. Angle.

Early spring style from adidas

This spring is all business for Justine Henin and her look comes from adidas' Competition line. The Competition 4 cap sleeve is a close fitting mock turtleneck (with back quarter zip), $50 U.S.D. Detailing includes epaulet style adidas stripes, color accents, graphic dots that visually taper your waist, and a tie in the back that holds the top in place while playing. Although the top is totally cute paired with the skirt, the split skirt ($45) is a reviewer's favorite, with its built-in shorts and simple sporty style. The style pictured here left would look terrific with a plain white tank as well. It also sits low on the hips which we loved. Check out all the colors in this style, aqua with lemon peel, cherry wood with lucid pink, white with aqua and white with cherry wood. Awesome.

Ana Ivanovic is wearing adidas' new Edge line-- so totally different! The Edge tank has an open, soft feel, with spaghetti straps that feed to a racer style back. Paired with the Edge skort -- pleated "bubble" skirt with built in compression shorts -- the look is so easy-going feminine. Edge comes in aqua with fresh green and white with aqua. The fabric is unbelievably soft. The top runs $40 USD and the skirt $45.00.The Edge dress below runs $65. All of these adidas styles offer ClimaCool technology and ample ventilation. You can find them at adidas retail stores, www.shopadidas.com or www.tennis-warehouse.com. Images (top) from adidas and Getty Images (below).

 

Treat nagging tennis injuries with an icy hug

Elbow, wrist and knee injuries are common in tennis. Treat or keep them at bay with these new flexible heat or ice sleeves that roll right on and completely cover the injured area. No more moving the pack around to get every spot. The 360-degree coverage allows the entire circumference of the injured area to be treated at one time. How nice is that?

Use these reusable sleeves (microwave for heat, freeze for cold) according to your doctor's recommendations. You will love how easy they are to use and will find yourself actually following your prescribed icing regime. Each therapy sleeve comes with a fabric insulating layer to put on first to protect your skin from extreme temperatures from the pack.

Torex Hot/Cold Therapy Sleeves are available in five sizes for different limb circumferences. Measure with an inch to spare for the area you are looking to treat. They have sleeves for the finger, wrist, elbow, knee and thigh and range from $12.95 USD to $24.95. Order at www.torexhealth.com.

Having a hard time focusing on the ball?

We had heard about Competivision eyewear technology from Bolle but had never tried it. What took us so long? With these lenses, that fuzzy little ball is superbly optic yellow and stands out over everything else on the court around you. The lens technology essentially mutes all colors except optic yellow enabling your eyes to pick up the ball faster. You can see the difference the Competivision lens makes with the online demo at www.bolle.com.

The Competivision lens is available in 12 different frames including the Shift ($149 USD), Warrant ($189), Edge ($149) and Microedge ($149) pictured left.  Everyone who tried them loved the look of the Microedge. You can check out the other frame styles online at www.bolle.com. All styles offer total UVA/UVB protection and are best for outdoor play. The newest styles, including the Microedge, will be online shortly or at Bolle dealers worldwide. They have a dealer listing on the site.  Bolle is the official eyewear of the U.S.P.T.A. which is certainly another vote of confidence. If you are having a hard time keeping your eye on the ball, you can't help but watch it in these. Advantage you. Also available at Tennis-Warehouse.

adidas by Stella McCartney -- We want the whole line

We thought that a fashion designer wouldn't have styles that really worked on-court. We were wrong. According to Stella McCartney, the adidas line's designer, "This collection is for women who take their sport and their style seriously. Why should we have to compromise one for the other." Well, we say, there IS a lot of great looking tennis wear out there but when you take a close look at this line, you'll see what Ms. McCartney means. The detailing on each piece is what makes her tennis tank, for example, a work of art. Some of the pieces are designed for play, the others are cover-ups, to put on or over your court-wear before and after your game.

The outfit above -- check out the hot little shorts -- is all part of the tennis cu (cover up) group. The fabrics are light and comfy. The polo is $100 U.S.D., the blouson jacket $165, and the shorts, $90. The image right shows the beautifully detailed pleated skirt, $100, with tennis hot pants, $60. The fitted tennis tank -- not pictured, but $100 -- has little enameled buttons up the front and fabric detailing that although sporty, is ultra feminine. The technical fabrics are light and unrestrictive. All of the colors and pieces in this line are not out yet (coming in April) but you can find most of them on line right now at www.shopadidas.com or www.tennis-warehouse.com

Love everything about your game except organizing it? Here's what to do.

Help has arrived for tennis players who love their game but cringe at the task of organizing it, especially when it comes to doubles.  MyTennisGroup.com provides 24/7 assistance for team captains and recreational players looking to develop rotations, practice times and yes, (thank you, thank you) it also helps find last minute subs. Once you have an account you and your players can log-on anytime and jump right into your group. Team line ups and cancellations are no longer a problem. The service manages player availability, sends reminders, and can help schedule matches and practices. No more phone calls! Team captains can register their U.S.T.A. or league team for $9.95 a season! Recreational season courts are $40.00. With an eight player rotation, that's $5.00 per person -- a couple bucks more than a can of balls. Visit www.mytennisgroup.com more information.

Coming soon -- Sharapova's gold bags by Prince

 

Thinking about upgrading your racquet bag? Go for the gold. It's hot on Wall Street and now on court thanks to Maria Sharapova who carried hers in Melbourne along with the tournament title. The racquet bag pictured here holds six racquets -- certainly more stick than any recreational player needs, BUT use the space for stowing your warm-up pants and jacket, towel, water, snack bars and change of shoes. You won't need to carry another bag. This line is designed to feel a little purse like, with a printed interior lining, quilted patent accents, pockets and pouches that zip and snap keeping your personal essentials quite organized. The cell phone and iPod (or other) pockets are placed on the outside of the bag making them super easy to access.

The Prince Sharapova Gold 6-pack retails for around $120.00 U.S.D. and will be available in March. Watch for the whole collection to roll out: triple racquet bag ($100), over shoulder tote ($50), bowling bag style tote ($60) -- see right -- and backpack ($70). Who doesn't feel good with a little gold?

Find a Prince retailer near you by visiting www.princetennis.com. You can also pre-order some of the line now at www.tenniswarehouse.com

Friend at Court 2008 -- Tennis rules you will use

For 2011 Friend at Court post click here.

This handbook, put out by the U.S.T.A., answers just about every question you've ever hand on-court during play. Do you get two serves if a ball rolls across the court between your first and second serves? What should you do with the score if someone serves out of order? Looking through this book, we can't find a situation that's not covered. Keep "Friend At Court" in your tennis bag and you will never have to debate a rule again.

Friend At Court 2008 contains: The official ITF Rules of Tennis, ITF Cases and Decisions, The Code: The Player's Guide for Unofficiated Matches, and much more.

This indispensable book is written for tennis officials, tournament administrators and players. It is available on-line at www.ustashop.com  $6.75 U.S.D. Great book, great price.

EleVen by Venus Williams -- love it!

Venus Williams' personal on-court style is not yet available on the market, but you can shop her EleVen line. EleVen combines court performance with style that works just as well off-court as on. The fabrics are soft, lightweight and very comfortable. Most of the pieces come in dry performance moisture wicking fabric. The styles are classic with a twist, nicely fitted with an accent of modern. The color palettes are fashionable, not flashy; the EleVen logo is embroidered on everything

We loved how these clothes fit and moved. Best of all are the prices. WOW! You can't get this kind of tennis style anywhere for less -- not even the clearance rack at Marshalls. The piped track set top (pictured left) retails for $14.98 U.S.D. and the matching pant, is also $14.98. The close-fitting boyfriend tank pictured under the jacket is just $7.98.

The comfy set pictured right would look great on any junior player. Performance polo $7.98, shorts $10.98. Boyfriend tank underneath. The line has lots more colors and styles.

With EleVen, fresh court style is now totally affordable. Stock up! EleVen by Venus Williams is only available at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide. Go to www.steveandbarrys.com to find the store nearest you.

Djokovic's Edge

Novak Djokovic was wearing the adidas Edge Tee ($40.00 U.S.D.) and men's Edge Bermuda shorts ($45.00 U.S.D.) when he took Federer and Tsonga down at the Aussie Open. This Spring '08 look boasts ClimaCool moisture managing materials and ventilation in key areas, keeping the body's temperature better regulated in high temps. Sizes run small - xxlarge. The blue Edge Tee is only available in adidas retail stores. Black is online.

If contemporary design is your thing, get your edge at adidas retail stores or go to www.shopadidas.com. You can find a list of retail locations at the site as well. Tennis-Warehouse carries the line as well. Image from adidas.

Janko Tipsarevic rocks the court in these Oakleys

It's not often you see a pro wearing specs on-court, but these are hot, especially on Janko Tipsarevic (here at the Australian Open). With these frames in the offing, we have decided that it's time to dispense with the notion that the glasses we wear to work will suffice on the court. How many times do you adjust yours during a match?

These lightweight frames are from Oakley. We tried them out and they don't budge during play -- plus we have to admit we felt a little edge wearing them.

This is the prescription Half Jacket style available from prescription Oakley dealers. They'll run you around $330.00 U.S.D.  Go to Oakley to find a dealer. You can buy the non-prescription sunglass version of the Half Jacket online on the Oakley site. Prices for sunglass styles start at $105.00 U.S.D. They come with a great hard case that you can just toss in your racquet bag, ready for your next hit. Getty Images.