tennisidentity.com

Tennis players, think pink and support breast cancer research.

    
 
 
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and sadly most of us know at least one woman who has been touched by the disease. Athletes everywhere are supporting the cause. Did you see the pink cleats hitting the NFL turf this month? Tennis players you can help researchers find a cure too.

There are a myriad of pink breast cancer awareness items out there. I like the ones that actually give a portion or all profits to support the cure. These items fit the bill. Left to right: hot pink Prince Lighting XX string, $5.50; New Balance  tank, $37.99 and skort, $41.99 (from the Lace Up for a Cure Collection); Wilson 3 pack racquet bag, $27.95; Soar for the Cure tee, $20; New Balance Motion Jacket, $50.

Pink is a hot and much loved color on court. Make it work for others too. Find these items and more at: Tennis-Warehouse, Shop Komen.com and tennis retailers.

Tennisidentity.com has made a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of tennis friends who have battled or are battling breast cancer.

Hip-Hop Artist Jay-Z Designs Limited Edition Arthur Ashe Tennis Tee Shirt.

The USTA announced today that hip-hop icon and Grammy Award-winning artist Jay-Z has designed a t-shirt featuring Arthur Ashe that will be sold at the 2009 US Open. 

The limited edition Jay-Z tee-shirt celebrates the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network’s 40th anniversary. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the NJTL and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS. 

 “I am thrilled that someone of Jay-Z’s stature would take part in this project,” said Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Ashe’s widow who remains active in the USTA NJTL network and other charitable endeavors associated with her late husband’s legacy.  “This shirt will honor the legacy of my husband and remind people of his contributions to both the sport of tennis and this country’s underprivileged youth.”

 The 100% cotton charcoal gray shirt with white and black image of Ashe will be available on-site at the Octagon and the Arthur Ashe Endowment Booth, and online at USOpen.org and ArthurAshe.org; $36 USD. The design is part of Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothing line, which the musician founded in 1999.  

 

Venus Williams Designs Limited Edition U.S. Open "Green" Tee Shirt

Ladies, two-time US Open Champion Venus Williams has designed an official 2009 US Open t-shirt.  The limited edition tee is part of the USTA’s wide-ranging green initiatives at the Open and will be sold at the Octagon, the US Open Collection stores located in Louis Armstrong Stadium and the South Plaza and on US Open.org; retail price $36.

The teal blue, yellow (tennis balls) and purple design is printed on comfy 100% organic cotton. Williams designed the shirt as part of her EleVen clothing line, which was launched in 2007 and at present doesn't have an official retail outlet. 

“I am really excited about this project because it combines three of my interests – tennis, fashion and the environment,” said Williams, who enters this year’s US Open seeded No. 3.  "I hope that my passion will be conveyed through this design and will inspire others to do their part to help preserve the environment.”

 A portion of the profits from the Venus Williams tee will benefit Unisphere, Inc., the non-profit organization that maintains and preserves Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Not performance but a good feel practice tee. Like the shirt says, "Green Your Game."

 

Live Tennis South: Andy Roddick to Headline WTT Smash Hit Charity Night Hosted by Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John.

Good tennis for a good cause. On December 8, 2009, longtime friends Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King will bring their annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits charity night of tennis to Louisiana for the first
time in the event's 17-year history. Andy Roddick and other top players will compete at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.

Captained by King and John, the players will form two teams and play five sets of World
TeamTennis (WTT). John will participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event. All proceeds from the night will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and regional Louisiana AIDS charities.

Special VIP ticket packages are available now. For more information visit WTT.

Image: Fred & Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Pre-Match Prep. Fighting words from Ferrell and Wilander and a little trash talkin.

Decked out in K-Swiss and Lacoste, Will Ferrell and Mats Wilander offer insight into eachother's games pre today's match. Who will Ferrell be tonight, the Ricky Bobby of tennis? A little Bobby Riggs maybe?

Will "King of Clay" Ferrell Takes on Mats Wilander in K-Swiss Tennis Showdown May 2. Seriously.

Be a part of tennis history when Will Ferrell takes on Mats Wilander in what's being billed as The Global Tennis Showdown, May 2 in Los Angeles. Pictured left, Ferrell the self proclaimed King of Clay, warms up (at the wrong game) in preparation to face Swedish tennis master, Wilander, former world  #1 and winner of 7 Grand Slam men's singles titles. Why and for what reason? For fun and a good cause, the Swedish School of Los Angeles and The Sweden House.

Dare I speak out against Ferrell's professed tennis talent when I say that this is sure to be funny -- but you know it will. I've actually heard Will is a good player but...

"I'm extremely excited to be a part of this event," said Ferrell. "I can finally put an end to my long-standing feud with Mats. I am tennis."

The K-Swiss sponsored event takes place May 2 from 4 pm - 9 pm at The Los Angeles Tennis Center on campus at UCLA in Westwood, California. Tickets range from $25 for general admission to $200 for Courtside VIP seats. A BBQ, live and silent auction and performance by The Dan Band are all part of the festivities.

Visit Global Tennis Showdown or call 1-888-369-9909 for tickets.

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.

Rock for Kids at Rock-N-Racquets. Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki will be there.

Rock-N- Racquets is back to benefit The Andy Roddick Foundation. Spon-sored by Babolat, the event will feature exhibition men's and women's singles and mixed doubles with headline talents Andy Roddick and Serena Williams and up-and-comers John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki. The seven year old event is Roddick's baby, designed to deliver his passion for tennis, music and his foundation to tennis fans of all ages. The synergy of athleticism and music throughout each evening creates a unique sports/entertainment experience that is uniquely Roddick's.

The Andy Roddick Foundation is dedicated to "Helping Children Today for Tomorrow." All benefiting organizations aid in the development of programming for at-risk children and families.

Rock-N-Racquets will be in Louisville, Kentucky December 12; Columbia, South Carolina, December 13; and Knoxville, Tennessee, December 14. Learn more at Rock-N-Racquets. Image: Sport Vision/Gianni Ciaccia