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Lacoste Signs 13 New Tennis Players to Wear the Brand Plus the Scoop on Andy's Latest Threads

Watch for a big infusion of Lacoste this year and maybe a little more variety. The company recently announced that thirteen new players are joining the team. ATP players new to the brand include: Dudi Sela (ISR), Julien Benneteau (FRA), Thierry Ascione (FRA), Gaston Gaugio (ARG), Federico del Bonis (ARG), Jesse Huta Galung (NL), Milos Raonic (CAN), David Souto (VEN) and Julien Obry (FRA). New WTA players include: Aleksandra Woziak (CAN), Vera Dusevina (RUS), Yaroslava Shedova (KAZ) and Mallory Cecil (USA). These players will join Andy Roddick (USA), Stanislas Wawrinka (SWI), Sam Stosur (AUS) and Dominika Cibulkova (SLO), who already wear the brand on and off court when "working." I've also seen Vania King (USA) and Gisela Dulko (ARG) wearing the croc.

Andy Roddick's kit at the Australian included this Lacoste Short Sleeve Super Dry Stripe Sleeve Polo, $88.00. He wore the eclipse blue version of the tennis shirt nights. That one is my fav of the two. His shorts are the Lacoste Diamante Drawstring, $85. These are the same style shorts he's been wearing for a year. The shirts they change up although he tugs at the shoulders of every single one.

Roddick's shoes are the Babolat Propulse 2 Titanium , $109 in black and gold. I love the women's version myself. Low to the ground, secure fit and super comfortable.

Find Andy's Lacoste style at Lacoste and now at Tennis-Warehouse's new Lacoste department! His shoes and racquet (the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT Plus) are available at Tennis-Warehouse.  Congratulations to the newly sponsored players. Looking forward to seeing you on the courts! Bring on the color.

Four Decades, Four Crocs. Lacoste Creates Special Polo for Fabrice Santoro.

If you didn't watch the early rounds of the Australian Open you missed it; the crocodile brand created a special polo shirt for their longtime ambassador Fabrice Santoro.

Santoro lost in first round match play to Marin Cilic. The final score was a respectable 7-5, 7-5, 6-3, not at all bad for a guy who's on tour at age 37. 

Santoro is a legend of sorts in that he has now entered 70 Grand Slam tournaments and is the only player to have played the Grand Slams during four different decades.

For this occasion Lacoste created a special zip-front polo shirt sporting the colors of the French flag on four crocodiles, one for each decade.

"We are proud to have built a long lasting relationship with [Santoro]...for 29 years..." said Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste SA. Alas the shirt is not available to us admirers of Santoro. I like it a lot though. 

Santoro's website.

Little Pink Dresses, (Not) For You and Me But...New Spring Summer Lacoste for Tennis.

This little pink dress has popped up all over the courts in Melbourne.  I've spotted it on Vania King (pictured above), Gisela Dulko and Samantha Stosur. Anyone I'm missing? It looks gorgeous against the blue courts and on the talented beauties wearing it; part of the grand pink and blue scheme Lacoste has going on down under. Only problem is...you can't buy it...sob...in that color.

The dress is the "Sleeveles Sport Tipped Pleated Tennis Dress," offered in Lacoste's Spring Summer 2010 Collection.  It IS available in a more traditional white with blue accents AND eclipse blue with white, $145 USD. I really WANT the pink but I'll settle for eclipse. It's a better color on everyone universally anyway.

This dress is super short (32" shoulder to hem), with a fitted body and drop waist that turns into flat pleats. Shorties and a fit form are a must.  It's made of performance polyamide/elastine to help keep you dry as you work your game.

Vania King plays with the Babolat AeroProDrive. 

Find the look at Lacoste.

Andy Roddick Commits to Wearing LACOSTE until 2013.

Rumors of Andy Roddick's plans to leave the croc have proven untrue. It was announced today that he has renewed his partnership with LACOSTE until 2013.

"I am proud to represent a brand that has such strong values surrounding family and sports," said Roddick. "After five years I feel a real sense of belonging to the crocodile family. I am happy to continue to be an ambassador of the LACOSTE brand and René Lacoste."

Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste (pictured here with Roddick) said, "We are proud to have a player of this level ...Andy embodies the values of a true champion..."

Looking forward to 2010. Congratulations and good luck Andy.

Find the croc at Lacoste.

Andy Roddick. His U.S. Open Ready Style from Lacoste.

It's a nice one. Andy Roddick's newest look combines the Lacoste Short Sleeve Printed Check Super Dry Polo, $95 in eclipse blue and the like-color Diamante Drawstring Short, $85 ($49.99 online sale). The shirt is all lightweight, all performance fabric, a totally different feel than traditional Lacoste shirts -- touches of kelly green and white add pop. Wonder if Roddick went a size smaller he'd stop tugging at his shoulders but at this point it's probably ritual along with the quick cap adjust.

The Men's Trucker Cap retails for $55  (now $32.99 online). The mesh top is great for keeping the head ventilated -- a much cooler option than a closed weave fabric.

Andy's racquet? The Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, ($189 USD unstrung) and his shoes? The Babolat Propulse 2, $109. ASO ankle braces, ($34.99 each) on both feet. This editor swears by them too.

Find Roddick's look and gear at Lacoste and Tennis-Warehouse. The Lacoste items are also available at the Lacoste shop at the U.S. Open.

Image: Ron Angle

Checking in with Roddick's Lacoste shirt collection.

One of Andy Roddick's newest shirts from Lacoste is the Super Dry Polo with Zipper Closure and Check Sleeve.  Not too creative of a name but a great looking shirt on the guy. 

This one was his choice at Roland Garros. The shirt comes in white with eclipse blue (shown here) and in the reverse, eclipse blue with white. The collar is ribbed, lightweight, 100% polyester, $95 USD.

Roddick's hat is the Men's Trucker Cap -- full mesh back for ventilation. It actually has less of a trucker look these days (a good thing) and it's on sale at the moment, $37.99. (regularly $55)

Available now at Lacoste under Men's tennis.

Andy plays with the new Babolat Pure Drive Roddick that we looked at May 13.

Image: Ron Angle

Andy Roddick's new stick from the 2009 Babolat Pure Drive Range. An upgrade with personal flair.

 

You may have noticed, Andy Roddick has a new racquet. It's the new Babolat Pure Drive Roddick ($189 USD, unstrung), ideal for expert players with full and fast swings looking for solid feel with spin and a balance of power and control. Head size: 100 sq.in.; weight:11.1 oz; flair: Roddick's sig.

The alternate version, currently used by Sybille Bammer, is the Babolat Pure Drive ($185) again for advanced players, same head size but a tad lighter at 10.6 oz.  Both 2009 Pure Drive sticks are enhanced with what the company calls GT technology. It's a hybrid material that combines braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments in the racquet head. This combo reduces torque at ball impact and creates power with precision. The blue color remains. Looking forward to a test drive!

The Babolat Pure Drive is available now for demo or purchase at Tennis-Warehouse and through dealers listed at Babolat. Extended and junior versions are available.

Complete your ensemble with the matching blue and black Team bag. They've got them for 3, 6, 9 or 12 racquets. The 3 pack is big enough for your average rec player who wants enough room to store a spare stick, balls and whatever other court essentials without carrying another bag.

For the scoop on Roddick's apparel from Lacoste, click here.

Lacoste for Women Who Court the Court.

Finally, some of Lacoste's pro tennis wear available, but only some. Pictured left, Nathalie Dechy wears the slimming Racerback V-neck Tennis Tank Top in bright white seamless stretch jersey, $72 USD. Also available is the Short -Sleeved Stretch Pique Collar Blocked Sport Polo $82 (not shown). We've seen both tops on Alize Cornet and Emilie Loit as well. Love them. A version of the Pique Baseball Cap is actually on sale at the moment, $16.99.

The orange skirt, visor and wrist-bands are not available, sorry. The top on Alize, below, is not available either. No whining, let's just be happy with what they have offered up for now. To our friends in France, keep it coming! We want it all. Buy at LACOSTE.

Images: Gianni Ciaccia

Andy Roddick Breaks Out A Fresh Shirt From Lacoste.

 

Andy Roddick hit the Australian Open, down fifteen pounds and wearing LACOSTE's new spring 09 line. Lookin' good. Pictured here is the superdry johnny collar color-blocked polo in eclipse blue and white, $95 USD. The shorts are the diamante drawstring short, $85, and the signature trucker cap, $55.00. The shirt and shorts are 100% Superdry polyester. The cap is 60/40 cotton/poly.

The shirt comes in a reversed white on black version as well (see below).

 

Learn more or buy at LACOSTE. The shirts will be up on the site February 1.

Images: Ron Angle

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.

Lacoste Performance Footwear And A What's Up (?) On Women's Style.

Add a little gator bite to your tennis wardrobe with these shoes. Lacoste's newest performance footwear styles are great looking, lightweight and super comfortable. The women's colors are unique gotta haves including the bahamas blue (above right) and pale yellow. The men's come in black (above left), navy and white. The Lacoste Repel retails for $135 USD, the higher end of the tennis sneaker price range, but they offer many performance features including memory foam, gel support and moisture wicking lining. Really nice.

Next, sorry but we have a gripe. We've all seen Andy Roddick's Lacoste kit on the market, but the women's styles on Nathalie Dechy, Emilie Loit, Alize Cornet and Dominika Cibulkova are simply not available for purchase ANYWHERE. What is up with that? The only piece available that the WTA ladies are wearing is the skirt we've seen on Dominika (Active Tipped Interlock Tennis Skirt, $125 USD).

With Lacoste becoming the Official Sponsor of the 2009 Australian Open, including being tournament outfitter, hopefully the company will begin to expand its line to allow more female players to get some of the great alligator style we've seen on the courts this year. Come on Lacoste, serve it up! We're waiting.

Buy the new Repel at Tennis-Warehouse or  Lacoste.

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.

On Deck, New Shirt and Jacket for Roddick

Here's what you'll see Andy Roddick wearing after he's done with the whites. Left, is the new LACOSTE Tennis track jacket in navy with ribbed collar and cuffs, 100% polyester with tipping, $175 USD. The super dry stripe polo with zip  is made of LACOSTE's super-dry pique and runs $95. The fabric effectively wicks moisture off the body and away so you stay dry and comfortable. Never sticky. This top offers a modern twist on a classic -- both pieces have an oversized croc...not TOO big to be obnoxious however. Very sharp style for the classics loving player. Find them online at Lacoste beginning July 1. If you are looking for the white shirt with blue shoulder piping that Roddick is wearing at Wimbledon, here's the link: Roddick's Wimbledon shirt. It's on sale for $65 USD.

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.