TennisIDENTITY

Musings On Tennis Court-drobes Today and Tomorrow.

Looking back at 2008's on-court styles, both pro and recreational, it is clear that there is truly no across the board "court-drobe," only strong individual opinions as to what works for game-time and image.  Aside from whites-only restrictions, some players are strongly influenced by what the top pros are wearing. Others look for high-fashion influences or designs that express their personalities through color and print. Some still see tennis as akin to a general workout and dress weight-room accordingly.

Most everyone is looking for performance however, and new fabrications that move with every twist and turn, wick moisture, prevent bacterial growth and offer protection from the sun have taken over the market. There are of course aberrations. Recent trips to regional USTA tournaments indicate that the 100% cotton tee is not dead, especially among male teens who use the shirt to communicate attitude not necessarily related to the game

Sneak peeks at 2009 tennis lines indicate that the pattern will continue and court attire will evolve with the same varied consumer interests in mind. Fila plans to offer a full line of retro feel attire that takes the company back to its tennis roots and will certainly appeal to those who love the look of Borg (minus the super short shorts). adidas and Nike have great looking performance collections planned with color and cut defining style. The power house apparel players look to be taking a less risky mass appeal path (driven of course by the top players), leaving the bold graphics, stripes, checks, florals, paisleys and animal prints to the smaller tennis vendors who will capture this group whose desire to express themselves is strong.

Tennis clothes do get tired after a lot of play and a little tennis shopping pick-me-up can be a good thing. Some lucky people play so much they simply need a lot of tennis clothes. Who doesn't feel their best in something fresh? Does this feeling make us play better? Will wearing Sharapova/Federer's Slam gear make us hit a better ball? Did your princess costume make you feel like the real deal? It certainly doesn't hurt and with a game as mental as tennis, anything that helps the mind-set is a good thing.

There is a great variety out there and as 2009 unfolds, we'll let you know what rolls out for the courts. You decide what will work for your good game and style, whatever it is.

"Shock" The Court With A New Line From Bollé

Give your look a shot of adrenaline with something from Bollé's new Pink Shock Group. Pictured here, left, is the sorbet-delicious women's Shock Striped Tank, $44.99 USD. With the flattering wrapped bustline, fitted bodice and key-hole back this is a stunner. Pair it with the black Shock Wrap Skirt or Shock Solid Skort in the same pink, both $44.99, or add it to your existing court-drobe; any black or white skirt you already own would work well with it too. The Shock Court Tank, right, $39.99 offers coverage seekers, just that. It also comes in pink with black accents. Both pieces, as well as others in the group, feature Bollé's 4 in 1 fabrication combining moisture wicking, anti-static, UV protection and anti-bacterial properties (which truly does add time to the life of a high-performance tennis garment). Check out the whole collection and give your game some pink infused energy. Available at fine tennis retailers including Tennis-Warehouse.

Spring/Summer 2009 Tennis Preview From adidas By Stella McCartney. What's Not to Love?

  

Once again uber style meets performance with Stella McCartney's spring/summer 2009 tennis line. Key silhouettes in the new collection are inspired by playful twists on Ms. McCartney's current fashion line, combining feminine rouching, gathering, mesh, delicate lace appliques and fluted sleeves. Ornate Edwardian lingerie and vintage nightwear influenced looks contrast with close fitting performance body wear. Collection highlights I love include a super pretty empire fit dress (above). The Stella McCartney line includes Climalite technology with savvy little mesh cut outs here and there for ventilation. At this time, Maria Kirilenko is still the only pro athlete allowed to wear the line. Not a problem for the majority of us not on tour. 

Pictured top left, the tennis performance dress in purple grape with white tennis performance bra and hot pant underneath. The same dress is shown top right in seed pearl with bra and hot pant in neon red. Below, the drop waisted tennis performance skirt in white with the lightweight CU blouson jacket. There's lots more in the line to come. Stay tuned! Shop beginning January 2009 at Tennis-Warehouse and adidas Tennis . Images: adidas by Stella McCartney

Mitch Kaplan. Agent Addicted.

Mitch Kaplan is president, founding partner and literary agent at KSB Agency in Beverly Hills, California. Between repping screenwriters, Kaplan can be found on court at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, the oldest tennis club west of the Mississippi. Kaplan says he has not stopped playing tennis since the day he picked up a racquet 52 years ago. In addition to his regular game, he runs a successful tournament and is a voracious pro-tennis fan. For Kaplan tennis is possibly a life requirement akin to oxygen.

Favorite surface: “Clay. Grass if I can find it.”

Singles or Doubles: “Absolutely love both."

Best Stroke: “Forehand and slice, either side.”

Baseliner or all-court: “All court definitely.”

Stick: “Past: Dunlop Maxply or Jack Kramer wood. Present: Prince O3 Speedport Silver.”

On Court Style: “Mostly whites, fitted shirts with collars. I like the shorter shorts but they are hard to find.”

Label Loves: “Lacoste and Nike although I do collect a lot of Grand Slam logo laden clothing. I love that stuff.”

Tennis Travel: “All the Slams, multiple times with my business partner Elliot Stahler (also addicted). One of my favorites is the Australian Open; it’s a party that brings that whole part of the world together.”

Male Pro Whose Tennis Style You Can Relate To: “Justin Gimelstob – only because he’s a friend, although 10 inches taller than me -- otherwise, seriously, Ken Rosewall and Tom Okker. Does that date me?”

Tennis Thanks: "To the pros at the Westside Tennis Club in New York where I grew up."

Current Male Players You Admire: "Roger Federer, perhaps the greatest ambassador of the game ever. I also enjoy watching Andy Murray, Gilles Simon and Juan Martin Del Potro."

Female players: “Justine Henin, my size, style and determination. I don't think that there is a female tennis ambassador at the moment. We don’t get to see much of who these players really are with their entourage alongside at all times.”

Competition: “Bring it on. All comers, all ages.”

Court Time: 3-4 times a week.

Tennis Accolades: Founder of the annual September Tennis for Tots - David & Lynn Angell Memorial Tennis Event which has raised more than $700 K for The Alliance for Children’s Rights in Los Angeles County since 1998.

Mitch Kaplan is pictured above on court (second in from right) with fellow players, Justin Gimelstob, left, Danielle Green, executive in charge of The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and  Tom Spezialy, far right, executive producer of Desperate Housewives.

Caroline Wozniacki's Style Set For the 2009 Australian Open.

 Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki is one to watch in 2009. Last summer the 18 year old grabbed her first WTA title at Stockholm's Nordic Light Open. Pictured here, Wozniacki wears her kit for the 2009 Australian Open. I got to try on both pieces and fell in love. The top is the adidas adlibria tank in neon yellow (MSRP $45 USD). Lightweight and luxurious feeling, the racerback top is cut to feature female specific ventilation -- mesh inserts and ClimaCool fabric offer plenty of breathability. I liked the close fit of this top and the fact that it sits lower than waistline height with a very pretty cut out  in the lower hem.  It was perfect over the low riding adilibria skort (here in cinder beach, MSRP $50) which oozes style with its voluminous pleats. I personally liked the white version as it goes with all the other tops I have.

Like Ana Ivanovic, Wozniacki will wear the Barricade V W (MSRP $120) when she steps onto the Aussie courts come January. All items will be available beginning January 2009. Learn more or shop at Tennis-Warehouse or adidas Tennis

ATP and WTA 2009 Tour Calendar Links. It's A Busy Year Ahead.

 

Click here and bookmark or print the tournament calendars for the 2009  ATP  and Sony Ericsson WTA Tours. You'll not only have the dates handy for all the slams, but also every other event as well.There's a lot of great pro tennis ahead.

2009 Outback Champions Series Schedule Announced. Eight Tournaments Including New Events in Brazil and Mexico.

The 2009 Outback Champions Series offers up a series of global tennis events featuring some of the biggest names in the game now over age 30: Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg and more. To be eligible to compete, players must have reached a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world in singles or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Yes hot-shot, they can still take you down 0 and 0.

In addition to single elimination singles, each six-player event will also feature special doubles exhibition matches which are really a treat to see as doubles gets a bit neglected when it comes to pro tennis television coverage. The 2009 Outback Champions Series schedule is as follows:

Champions Cup Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 13-15; Rio Champions Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 12-15; The Del Mar Development Champions Cup, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, March 18-22; The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships, Grand Cayman, April 23-26; International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup, Newport, Rhode Island, August 19-23; The Citadel Group Championships at The Palisades, Charlotte, North Carolina, September 25-27; Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise, Surprise, Arizona, November 6-8; Emirates NBD, The Legends Rock Dubai, Dubai, U.A.E., Nov. 19-21. Learn more at Champions Series Tennis. Watch for Tennis Channel coverage of some of these events as well.

2008 Hydration Round-Up -- New For Today's Player Thinking Performance and Recovery

For today’s athlete, hydration involves far more than a drink of water. 2008 saw the release of some great new offerings:

  CherryPharm. An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Forget about it. How about 50 cherries? This tart cherry juice drink is downright delicious. Drinking one 8 fl. oz. bottle of CherryPharm natural fresh is the equivalent of eating 50 fresh ones loaded with phyto-nutrients. According to test results CherryPharm has more antioxidants than any other beverage on the market. It has been clinically proven to lessen pain and speed recovery from exercise induced aches and pains  $49.99 USD for a case of 24 8 oz bottles. Visit CherryPharm to buy or learn more.

PureSport. PureSport offers athletes two pre-packaged drink mixes, one for during and one for after your workout. Both feature whey protein isolate, anti-oxidants, electrolytes and natural sugars in their formulation. We liked the taste (we tried fruit punch) and found it not too heavy. Olympic gold-medalist Michael Phelps uses and endorses the product, saying that he’s “noticed a huge difference in [his] productivity and energy level using PureSport.” That’s a decent endorsement seeing as the guy won 8 golds and broke 7 world records. Visit PureSport for more information or to buy. The starter kit pictured here is $19.99 (8 servings).

 Zym. This drink mix is a breeze to concoct -- absolutely no mess. Available in a tube of 10 tablets, toss one in a 16-20 oz water bottle and shake it up to fight off dehydration, fatigue, muscle pain and lactic acid build up while you play. Zym contains guarana caffeine for those who want the extra boost, plus sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium and essential B12 vitamins. Visit Zym to learn more or buy. Also available at Tennis-Warehouse. Three tubes (30 tablets total) is $26.97.

Quick Sister, Get Yourself a Pair of These.

Athletic foot candy? Not at all. Ok, I do love the way these look but there's a boatload of technology packed into these babies. If you train for your tennis game, sprint, twist, stretch, lunge, you want the new Nike Women's Zoom Quick Sister+ that rocks with every twist and turn in your off-court regime. Here's why. DiamondFLX technology in the outsole allows for multi directional support and flexibility. Turn the shoe over and you can flex and roll the sole in every direction, no resistance. They are also super light because of flywire construction (also new). Added bonus, the Quick Sister is Nike+ enabled so you can track your workout via your iPod nano.

You'll be jonesing for every one of the delicious colors. Pictured here is Italy blue/white with volt and blue sapphire. I have the black/white with vivid pink and metallic silver versions and ADORE them. $85.00 USD. Available December 26 at Nike. Sorry guys, this one's only for the sisters.

Fed Cup Quarterfinal, U.S. vs. Argentina February 7 and 8, 2009 in Arizona. Tickets on Sale.

Tickets for the February 7-8 United States vs. Argentina Fed Cup quarterfinal go on sale today (10 AM MT). The matches will be played at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona where the U.S.T.A. will build a temporary 4,000 seat stadium for the two-day, best of five match event.

The U.S. and Argentina are two of eight quarter finalist nations competing for the 2009 Fed Cup title as part of the Fed Cup World Group. Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the world’s largest annual international women’s team competition with more than 80 countries competing this year. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster or by calling 1-888-334-USTA (8782).

Tennis Channel will present daily live coverage for those you can't make it to sunny Arizona.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's On-Court Look for Australian Open 09.

Not sure if Tsonga had allusions to Muhammed Ali's famous line when selecting his yellow-jacket like kit for the 2009 Australian but man, it looks like it. Pictured here is the Men's Competition Tee in neon yellow with full mesh back, $45.00 USD. This super comfy shirt incorporates ClimaCool and ForMotion technology for unrestricted performance.

The shorts are the Competition Bermuda in black $45.00, same performance technology as the shirt. The pockets are lined with toweling for tending to sweaty hands without going to the towel. On his feet are the legendary Barricade V, $120.00 USD (adidas's #1 selling tennis shoe). All kinds of tech. in these.

Love the look, sharp, strong, very cool. Available in January 2009 at Tennis Warehouse and adidas Tennis.

Roman Prokes, RPNY Tennis. Racquet Stringer To The Pros.

Ever wonder where the pros get their racquets strung? The names are tough to read here but believe me, this line-up covers an international spectrum of players: Tommy Haas, Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic, Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi, Stephi Graf, Nicole Vaidisova and more. The place, RPNY Tennis in New York City. The man, Roman Prokes, who has been customizing tennis racquets for 25 years.

Most recreational players merely change string and overgrip. Tour pros and others in the know (possibly those with a little extra dough) have theirs customized. Weights can be changed, tension, mix of string, balance and length as well. Want to add a little more zing to your spin? Prokes can help. Pros actually have molds made and notes taken on their specific racquet wishes and that stick is duplicated by the RPNY crew time and time again. Many of Prokes' innovations have been incorporated into production models over the years.

Prokes and his team will be on site at the Australian Open where they will become part of the official Wilson sponsored stringing team. They will be at all of the 2009 slams and at eight masters events. When not at these venues, client players needing customization ship their racquets directly to New York.

Prokes meets players on court or by phone to discuss specific racquet needs. Locals and NYC visitors itching to play can also talk with him at the very posh CityView Racquet Club where RPNY Tennis has a satellite shop. Visit RPNY Tennis to learn more.

2008 Best Tennis Gear of the Year. Jon Levey Makes His Picks.

Watch here as Jon Levey, Senior Gear Editor at TENNIS magazine, makes his Best of 2008 Gear picks. Among them a racquet, racquet bag, court shoes and more. Agree with Jon? What are your picks for the year?

The Dunlop Orange Bowl. Where Winning Can Make a Career in Tennis. Go Watch If You Can.

If you are in the area, check out some of the world's best boys and girls,16s and 18s, at the 62nd Annual Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships in Key Biscayne, Florida at the Crandon Park Tennis Center. The event which runs through November 14 has become a springboard to pro status for many, especially those winning the tournament. Past champions include: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Mary Jo Fernandez, Gabriella Sabatini and Elena Dementieva. As you might expect, the hitting is impressive. For more tournament facts, check Tennislink or go to Dunlop Orange Bowl. 

Ana Ivanovic's Australian Open 09 Style Confirmed.

 Ana Ivanovic's 2009 Australian Open dress made a quick test debut in Doha. It passed. The violet adilibria dress by adidas will be Ana's first round look down under. Designed with ClimaCool technology in the like buttah' lightweight fabric adidas fans love, the look is stylishly current, bold and strong. Adilibria by name and cut exudes the tiniest hint of tunica from ancient Rome with the asymmetrical shoulders and ruching, but the athletic ability and feminine silhouette with drop waist, flirty pleated skirt and vibrant hue make it decidedly contemporary.

 Don't size-up with this dress as it needs to sit on the hips to fall correctly. A trim physique is a must. MSRP $70.00 USD, also in cyan (aka teal blue).

For footwear Ana has chosen the Barricade V W, white with metallic grey stripes, MSRP $120.00. Great stability and long-term wear on hard surfaces. Dress and shoes available beginning January 2009. Get the look at Tennis Warehouse or adidas Tennis .

John McEnroe Serves Up A Treat For The Dunlop D Squad And Introduces The New Dunlop 2009 Aerogel 4D Racquet Range

Dunlop's D-Squad program is a grassroots initiative to encourage racquet usage amongst junior players worldwide. The program also identifies future potential players for international Dunlop sponsorship. Pictured here is John McEnroe who brought his expertise to coach the next generation of tennis stars at the Chelsea Harbour Club in London, England this past weekend.

The kids got to hit with the former Wimbledon champ and had the chance to try out the new Dunlop 2009 Aerogel 4D racquet range, the: 2HUNDRED, 2HUNDRED 16x19, 3HUNDRED, 5HUNDRED, 5HUNDRED Tour, 5FIFTY LITE, 5FIFTY SUPER-LITE, 7HUNDRED, 9HUNDRED and the SUPER-LITE series. All AEROGEL 4D racquets offer the new 4D technology to enable them to perform four times better than standard carbon racquets. Go to Dunlop to learn more or find a retailer. On sale now in the U.K., and coming soon to the U.S. Check Tennis-Warehouse. We'll get an image up shortly so you can take a look.

With LACOSTE's 2009 Tennis Line Imminent, Jérémy Chardy Motivates.

 Jérémy Chardy, currently ranked 73rd worldwide, is one of LACOSTE's brand ambassadors (and a looker to boot). On Saturday, December 13 he joins the teaching teams of the Fête le Mur Association on the tennis courts of France's Pau site to participate in training activities.

Fête le Mur Association is located in the
heart of 25 Sensitive Urban Zones. Yannick Noah is President of the organization. Fête le Mur allows disadvantaged children to practice tennis, improve and for some, find a professional outlet teaching the sport. The association is supported by partners including the René Lacoste Foundation. 

BTW Chardy's shirt, pictured here is the short sleeve super-dry zip chest striped polo. It's on sale at the moment (reg. $95 USD), so if you like it, the price is right. The gator decorated terry head and wrist bands are $9 and $8 respectively. Find at LACOSTE. Stay tuned on what's coming up for 2009. Image copyright: Ron Angle.

Calling all Prince Fans. New Racquet Technology Coming Our Way?

"Can you feel the energy," Prince asks. From the looks of this little clip something good is brewing for 2009. A new technology and racquet line maybe?  Watch here. We'll keep you posted.

On This Day In Tennis History...Pick a Day, Any Day.

Just out, Randy Walker's  On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology of Anecdotes and Historical Happenings is a tasty mini-encyclopedia of tennis events and anecdotes, 1920s to current day. January 1 through December 31, not a day is skipped. The well written entries include major tournament victories, summaries of great matches, trivia, statistics as well as little known and quirky happenings. I went right for my birthday which in 1996 turns out to be the day Andre Agassi was disqualified from a match for the first and only time in his career. It was also the day in 2005 that Rafael Nadal beat Agassi in Montreal. There were of course better days for the guy. The day of the cover shot is just one.

This is a great coffee-table pick up, an essential for the tennis enthusiast or sports fan with a Jeopardy loving mindset. $19.95 USD.

Tennisidentity.com Nominated for Best Tennis Blog of 2008!

 On the Baseline's 2008 Baseline Awards are up for grabs and Tennisidentity.com has been nominated for Best Tennis Blog in the Media category!  Other blogs in the running include: Nicks Picks, Peter Bodo’s TennisWorld, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Player Blogs, Women’s Tennis Blog and Zoo Tennis. We are thrilled to be among such good company.

Visit the 2008 Baseline Awards and rock the vote! Cast your choices for female player of the year, fan favorite, doubles team, tennis writer, tennis blog, biggest upset of 2008 and many more. Voting runs now through December 29, 2008. The winners will be announced January 1, 2009. Tennisidentity's platform? You got it...Know what's new. Own the best. Let us help you hone your tennis identity.

On the Baseline is devoted to professional women's tennis news and we have to say they do a great job of it. Check it out.

Gift Ideas for Tennis Lovers. Holiday 2008.

Looking for gift ideas for the tennis player in your life? Practical makes perfect with these suggestions, both small and large:

Case the joint. 24 cans of balls. Any player would be psyched to get a case full. Check out Penn, recently named as the official ball of the BNP Paribas Showdown or Dunlop named the official ball of the Blackrock Masters, over on the other side of the pond. Check Tennis-Warehouse, around $60 USD.

Offer a little TLC.  Most players suffer a few aches and pains after a hard game. New, ALCiS Pain Relief Cream does the trick. This cream, neither hot, nor cold, lacks that tell-tale pungent smell and works on contact. Our aching muscles loved it. A 2.0 oz tube is $19.95 USD. Find a retailer or order at ALCis.

A healing hug. Another new pain management alternative comes from Draper Body Therapy. Draper's therapeutic sportswear range includes close fitting ankle, elbow and wrist supports and tees that are worn before or after play under street clothes. All products use "smart fiber" proven to increase the circulation of oxygenated blood (up to 29%). Translates to faster healing and less pain. Buy at Draper Body Therapy. Products range from $5 - $59.

Under-love 'em. Ja! Help your tennis friends feel a little Swedish in Björn Borg. Available at www.bjornborg.com, these undies are under-art to wear for both men and women. Plus they look and feel fab. Prices range from $25 - $50.00 USD. 

Time with Nick. No not St. Nick, Nick B. For the player who wants to hang with Nick Bollettieri but knows  it’s never gonna happen, put a smile on his or her face with the Bollettieri Bobblehead. Not practical at all, but hey it’s as close to the real deal as most of us will ever get. Available at ISD Store at IMG Academies, $20.00 USD.

Top 'em off.  Glove It offers a wide variety of freshly patterned womens sports accessories including great hats and visors. With over 30 patterns to choose from, you are sure to find something for the woman who prefers her very own unique style, hats run $14.95 USD.

Protect them. Oakley lenses were all over the Olympics this summer. If they worked for the athletes, you can be sure they will work for your player. Visit Oakley and check out the “Enduring” and "Flak Jacket." They stay put, truly cut glare and look super cool. Range $140 and up depending on technology.

String 'em along. Did you know that there are a myriad of string choices out there? Gamma's Zo Tour Rough string is new. This is a funky orange 16 gauge polyester string that is textured to provide maximum bite, spin and control. Any topspin generator would love to give it a try. Visit Gamma Sports to learn more or buy at Tennis Warehouse, $13.95.

Sock it to them. Socks sound super boring but believe it when we say, if your player is still wearing bulk pack socks from Wal Mart they will thank you forever for turning them on to the best.  Among our favs are Thorlos and Euro Sock available at Tennis-Warehouse. PowerSox are another great brand, available at Gold Toe Moretz.  With unique left and right foot fit technology, they stay put and never bunch up. Sock prices range $6 - $12 USD.

Give fitness and agility. The Sport Vision Set includes a reaction ball, stability ball, wobble board, juggle balls and how-to booklet to tie them all together. Designed to help with tracking, stability and agility, this set, available at Jump USA ,$79.95 USD  is a great for the serious-on-improving player.

Treat your teen. For the sweats loving teen who wants to make her passion known, visit Sweet & Powerfulfor brightly colored TENNIS sweats that offer a warm, cozy tennis identity. $29.99 USD.

Tie one on. Nothing wrong with this steadfast gift, as long as it's creative. Out of the thousands at Ties they’ve got some fun yet classy tennis ones for the office-going tennis lover. 100% silk, $19.95 USD.

Ticket them. No one would turn down the opportunity to see the sport they love played by pros. Visit the website of your favorite local tournament. Most have tickets for pre-sale right now. Price varies.

Help them to worship. Daily adoration is possible with pro themed calendars. Tennis-Warehouse has Rafa and R Fed 2009 calendars, $19.99-25.00 USD.

Brick and mortar. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is looking for donors. Pave the way for future generations by making a gift in someone’s name. With a  donation between $1,000 and $25,000 your special someone will get their name inset in the walkway to the renowned tennis center. The more you give, the nicer the brick, the better the placement. Learn more at USTA Serves.

Give game to a child. Other tennis organizations looking for financial assistance include the James Blake supported harlemjuniortennis

Check 2008 posts on Tennisidentity.com for more great gift giving ideas: tennis totes, water bottles, racquet bags, gear, clothing, ball hoppers and more.

Happy holidays.

  More tennis gift ideas here.