TennisIDENTITY

Personal Exercise Bands to Strengthen Your Tennis Game

Fitness is a big part of tennis and if your tennis facility doesn't offer weight training equipment this means another club membership or home equipment. Pricey. We've seen circuit pros (men and women) warming up with exercise bands prior to matches. They hook them over the net post or fence and warm up shoulders, arms and legs.

What we didn't realize was that you can get a great whole body workout with a complete set of these bands. Each color offers a different level of resistance. Requiring storage space about the size of a large tissue box, you can work out anywhere you have a little room to move. The brand we checked out, Ripcords, offers a DVD called Circuit 7 which outlines a 7 minute total body workout beginner to expert. We liked the easy to hold handles on each of the bands and the workout was great. Package prices range between $39.95 and $67.90 USD.  The six-pack is also available at Tennis-Warehouse.

Unique Style That Puts "You" In Your Game.

Tennis bloggers are buzzing about possible pro defections from camp adidas because of what is being dubbed as less-than inspired fashion. Truly the clothes haven't been bad, just repetitive.  Hey, the girls want to express themselves. Way boring wearing the same thing week after week.

In the spirit of different we're offering up a sampling of some of the most unique tennis tops on the market at the moment. Designers have been hard at work making sure your on-court experience is nothing but fun, at least in the fashion department. Coordinating pieces are available for each top shown. From left to right: Jerdog Sling Tank ($36.99 USD) , LBH Katmandu Tank ($41.99 ), Peachy Tan North Shore V Tank ($42.99), Bolle Ocean View Doubles Tank ($39.99) and LeJay Domino Effect Mandarin Tank ($35.99) . Check 'em all out at Tennis-Warehouse. Express yourselves girls! No one's telling us what to wear.

Babolat Introduces the XS Line of Racquets for Intermediate Players

If you are an intermediate level player looking to change racquets, check these out. Babolat has just introduced its new XS line featuring the company's new Xtra Sweetspot technology.  These are lightweight, maneuverable racquets with a grommet design that significantly increases the sweet spot, which is helpful to those among us who don't hit dead center on every single ball. You can see the new Pebax grommets on each side of the racquet face above. The new technology means that you really don't have to go to an oversized head if off-center hits are a problem. Both the Babolat XS 102 and 105 are MSRP $119 USD unstrung. String recommendation: Babolat Addiction (comfort). There appears to be very little difference between the two models; color is one and the 105 has a slightly larger head size. Learn more at Babolat or go to Tennis-Warehouse to buy or demo.

Please note, the yellow XS 102 shown above is only available in Europe. The U.S. distributed version is blue.

No Old Dogs Here. These Guys Still Play Big.

Looking for some great tennis in your own back yard? Check out the Outback Champions Series, played around the US (and the world) by tennis legends who've passed the ripe age of 30 (hey, that's not old). Eight champions play in each event. Money is on the line so these are not just exhibitions. The tennis is great and seating is intimate. Each player has either held a top 5 singles ranking, been a Grand Slam singles finalist or a singles player on a Championship Davis Cup team during their ATP Tour playing careers. John McEnroe and Pete Sampras (pictured above) played in Boston this past summer.

Upcoming 2008 events: The Citadel Group Championships at the Palisades,September 24-28, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina; Stanford Championships, October 22-26 in Dallas, Texas; Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise, November 5-9 in Surprise, Arizona; and the Legends of Rock Dubai, November 19-22 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2009 events include the Rio Champions Cup March 12-15  2009 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and The Del Mar Development Champions Cup, March 18-22 in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Find tickets and player line-ups on the Champions Series Tennis website.

Wilson Launches Innovative Apparel Line Incorporating a Little "Green."

Wilson has revamped its clothing line to offer updated style with innovation in sun protection (nanoUV), moisture manage- ment (nanoWIK) and anti-microbial odor protection (nanoBAN).

The new line will also incorporate body mapping that blends performance fabrics allowing for hot spot cooling without seams.

"Green" players -- select pieces will integrate bamboo, one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable materials on the planet. Bamboo's eco-positive properties provide the ultimate in performance based on nature's own technology. It feels good too.

The new lines, available for adults and children, will be out Spring 2009. We'll keep you posted.

adidas, Swinging Back Into Racquets

Are you old enough to remember adidas racquets? This is a classic shot. Tennis legends Ivan Lendl (pictured) and Ilie Nastase wore the tip to toe adidas package with obvious success but soon after the racquets slipped from the company's line. Well they're back and we're dying to check them out. New for Spring 2009, six new racquets total: four Barricade models, The Response, and the Feather. All are named after benchmark adidas tennis shoes.

The Barricade Tour is designed for the tournament player, the Barricade Tour Light for strong juniors, the Barricade (pictured below), a more forgiving racquet, for the recreational player, and the Barricade junior for budding tennis stars. All Barricades feature adidas' power structure technology to improve torsional stability -- more simply, it adds pop and a larger sweetspot.

The Response offers a combination of power and control for most club players. A higher frame height gives greater power while the stiffness and string pattern bring control. The Feather is the lightest of the new adidas tennis racquet range but with the thickest frame it offers a little extra power for the recreational or older club player seeking an easy to handle racket.

The Barricade range of rackets will be out in the US February 2009 and will retail between $145 and $185 USD. They will be sold through adidas' own retail as well as tennis specialty stores worldwide. We'll keep you posted. 

Lendl image courtesy of the Information Research Center at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport, Rhode Island.www.tennisfame.com

Watch Davis Cup Action on TV -- USA vs. Spain. Who Will Avoid The Bull? Plus More From All Over The World.

Davis Cup World Group Semifinals and Playoffs run September 19-21. Semifinal match ups include: Argentina vs. Russia in Buenos Aires, and Spain vs. defending title-holders, team USA in Madrid. The winning teams advance to face each other at the World Finals, November 21-23.

Sam Querry and Raphael Nadal will play each other Friday to kick off the best-of-five match series between Spain and USA. Who will avoid the bull? Spanish Captain Emilio Sanchez referred to this Spanish expression during today's press-conference, fitting for a match played inside a bullfighting ring. Andy Roddick will play David Ferrer in the second singles match.

World Group Playoffs also this weekend include: Great Britain vs. Austria, Switzerland vs. Belgium, Croatia vs. Brazil, Israel vs. Peru, Netherlands vs. Korean Rep., and Slovak Republic vs. Serbia.  The winners advance to World Group in 2009

To find out where and when to watch all the action, go to to the Davis Cup website; click on the match you want, then click the "View TV Schedule" icon. You can also view team team line ups and draws.

US fans can purchase US Davis Cup gear at the USTA shop online under Davis Cup Gear. We especially like the Davis Cup Team Men's Zip Microfiber Navy Pullover ( $64 USD) and Davis Cup Skullcap ($20 USD). Image: USTA/Ron Angle

Spotted at the Open. Serena's Got A Brand New Bag.

This is the bag Serena Williams carried on court alongside her racquet bag into the US Open finals; superbly spicy with her red cocktail dress that really was (in our opinion) one of her most classy outfits yet. Pictured here is the Nike Re-issue Travel Club bag, $80 USD available at Nike. Modeled after a classic bowling bag it would look sharp on any court (or after) alongside anything from Nike's Autumn Red collection (among which is Serena's red dress, $100). Yup, the bag is truly a fashion item, but for the tennistas out there, an essential one. The autumn red collection of apparel is available online at Nike and at Tennis-Warehouse.

Tennisidentity Gear Review: Groove Your Ground Strokes and Volleys with the WristAssist

The WristAssist lived up to Brad Gilbert's billing. Both our teaching pros and players agreed it was an effective tool in learning proper wrist positioning when hitting ground strokes and volleys.

After a few awkward tries, our hits felt solid and we could feel the motion that the device strives to communicate. At net the WristAssist will not allow you to drop your wrist, a common problem for recreational players. The company suggests wearing the WristAssist frequently in the beginning, grooving different kinds of shots until you feel the positioning and stroke naturally in order to replicate it on your own; they call it brain training. This is not a one and done; it is a training device that seems quite effective.

The WristAssist is quick and easy to put on. It is made of comfortable, quality materials that maintain an adjustable hold. The device doesn't give in to tension so the hit you get is the same one, time after time.  Learn more or buy at Square Hit Tennis. Retail price is $69.95 USD.

The Gear that Rocked With Andy Murray's Game

Following in the footsteps of Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray wore Fred Perry at the U.S. Open. This top and short are part of Fred Perry's 2008 Grand Slam range. Activeair fabric, ergonomic seams and a clean, loose silhouette make this performance line comfy on court, a great choice for the player who likes more of an untailored, everyday style. Pictured here is the limestone and french navy US Open Match tee, L 35 (app. $61 USD) and the Fred Perry Short 08, L 30 (app. $53 USD).

Andy's racquet is the HEAD MicroGEL Radical MP, his brand of choice since age 12. This was his first career grand-slam final.

Check out more on Andy's racquet at Tennis-Warehouse or HEAD.

You can buy the Fred Perry pieces online at PWP Sport, England. Learn more about the line at Fred Perry.

New Separates From K-Swiss: Sophisticated Color and Comfort.

We've talked a lot about dresses this year but fact is, most of us wear separates when we practice and play. Maybe it's something about their versatility. This combo on Alona Bondarenko caught our eye. Both pieces are new from K Swiss, the Knit Sport Skirt, $45 USD with built in shorts in urban grey and the Scoop Back Tank, $45 in boysenberry. Alona's sneakers are the Ascendor Mesh, $100.

Comfortable, wicking fabrics and unique unfussy feminine styling details make these pieces a great fashion/function choice. Love the sophisticated color combination.

Buy at K-Swiss or Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: Getty Images

Babolat Launches New Line of Nadal Junior Racquets -- Just Like the Big Guy's

Babolat just unveiled a new line of Nadal inspired junior racquets. Most kids want to play with what their favorite pro uses but it really isn't a good idea unless they are ready level-wise. This new line solves the problem by offering the adult Aeropro Drive cosmetic, looking just like Nadal's, but in a version suited to a beginner's game, ages 4-9.

The new line, out this month, offers five versions, the Nadal 100,110, 125, 140 and 145. Head size, weight and length increase with each model number. All are made of a lightweight aluminum construction and are great for learning top-spin, one of Raphael's biggest weapons. MSR prices start at $24.95 USD. Get your kid one of these and grow some champion game.

Learn more at Babolat. Available through Babolat authorized tennis retailers and soon at Tennis-Warehouse.

Davis Cup Team Players Announced. Semifinals in Madrid's Plaza de Toros Las Ventas Sept. 19-21. You Can Be There.

The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe just announced that Andy Roddick, James Blake, Bob and Mike Bryan will be representing the U.S. in the Davis Cup semifinals against Spain, September 19-21 . The matches will be played inside the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid, a bull-ring that seats 21,000. Either Andy or James will likely face Rafa. That's Rafa, in Spain, on clay. Our guys are going to need a little red white and blue presence in that arena. Get yourselves over there!

If you want to go, you still can and it's easy. Check out what packages Grand Slam Tennis Tours has to offer. One of our friends took a recent tour with these guys and said it was awesome. They have done ALL the work. Pack your racquets. You'll want to find some red clay to test your game too.

Federer's Nike NYC Jacket.

Love this jacket? We do too. It's a functional, performance (sphere dry fabric) warm up jacket on top of being Roger Federer's choice at the Open. It runs $60, black only, at Tennis-Warehouse. Gotta have it!

Look for it in the Nike NYC Apparel section.

Limited Edition Ralph Lauren US Open Tennis Line Available Through New Mobile Commerce Site

Country club style lovers, check out Ralph Lauren's line of U.S. Open themed tennis attire. Pictured here, left, is the Official Limited Edition US Open Slim Fitting Polo, $90 USD. On the right is the US Open Avondale Jacket, $175. Both are made of bright white, high-quality cotton. The jacket has a little stretch built in and comes in navy or white. The matching stretch pants are $98. Yes, that cute navy lines woman polo is there as well, $85, made of moisture wicking stretch microfiber.

Buy the whole 2008 U.S. Open Collection (men's too) on Polo Ralph Lauren's new luxury m-commerce site. Access the site through your cell phone's camera (very cool) by taking a picture of the Quick Response (QR) code on Ralph Lauren print ads, store windows and mailers. If your phone doesn't have a QR reader, you can download it or simply buy online at m.ralphlauren.com.

New K Swiss as Seen on Mardy Fish -- Casual Tennis Style for Serious Players

Many sponsors appear to require their players to wear the same outfit throughout an entire tournament. K-Swiss lets Mardy switch it up a bit within the line; nice for a guy who doesn't appear to want to look too done-up. Recently he wore the loose fitting, performance styles above. The top is the new K-Swiss short sleeve v-neck, $50 USD and long mesh shorts, $48 (10"inseam). Both are performance pieces that help control heat and wick moisture. In earlier rounds, Mardy wore the new short sleeve crew neck in charcoal, $50 (not pictured). Looked like a simple tee but body mapped mesh inserts in back make this a great choice for the player who wants performance without looking too tailored. Look for these styles at K-Swiss or Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: getty images/Chris McGrath

Andy Roddick's US Open On-Court Shirt

If you are looking for the shirt Roddick is wearing at the Open, check out this review link On Deck.... It's the same shirt but in navy with white stripes, $95 USD. Order it at Lacoste where you can also find Andy's signature trucker cap for $55.

Made for Maria. US Open Dresses for Night or Day. We Would Like to Have Seen Her in These.

These appear to be what Maria Sharapova planned to wear nights and days at the US Open. They would have looked lovely with her blond hair. Dri-Fit fabric and built in sports bra make these frocks player friendly and the mesh overlays, pleats and velvet accents add Maria-esq glamour. The dresses are available to play even though Maria was not, so take a look and give one a try.

The Nike Women's Maria NYC Night Dress runs $110 USD and the Maria NYC Day Dress, available in white and concord grape (pictured here), is $95.00. Look for both at Tennis-Warehouse (listed under Nike Women's Apparel) or Nike. Get better soon Maria. We miss you.