TennisIDENTITY

Cotton ON to this line from Under Armour.

Cotton t-shirts are well-loved but they are not great for tennis. Once a sweat sets in they get wet, stay wet and cling. Under Armour's line of performance cotton (UA Charged Cotton) which weaves hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers together, solves the problem. 

Same soft, smooth feel as as old-friend tee, the new line really does wick and dry fast. I like them for the gym too. Basic tee for a guy but select women's tops have a loose but close fitted athletic cut (look for the words "semi fitted" on the label). Nice coverage up top and they are long, keeping that less-than-perfect zone under wraps while serving.

The t-back tank, right, is what I tried. 5% elastanane alongside 95% cotton adds stretch.

If you have been steering clear of cotton, check this line out which includes crew and v neck tees as well as shorts. Both tops pictured run $24.99 USD.

 Find the line at Under Armour, Tennis Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Novak Djokovic. Stick and Style at the Australian Open 2012.

 Novak Djokovic kicked off the 2012 season with new tennis fashion from Sergio Tacchini. No change in stick however; his HEAD Youtek IG Speed MP racket has certainly served him well.

The polo's colors (on white base for day, black base for night) are inspired by the Serbian flag which also appears in a heart at the lower left shirt hem.  The shirt also comes in navy and as a crew. ST designers tell me that the digital prints (that look to me like art created by a fast paint soaked jump rope) are an artistic interpretation of the dynamic nature of tennis, the force of a ball strike and the Serb's explosive energy. Explosive. Perfect word for Novak's game.

If anyone can prove that a line moves and breathes with you without any hindrence it's Djokovic. No question in the claim that the line here is ergonomic. No ST distribution in the US at this time. As of 2/3/2012 new Aussie Open SergioTacchini now available in US.

Find a HEAD racket retailer at HEAD or test drive through Tennis-Warehouse.  Novak's apparel is available at Sergio Tacchini. 

Stanislas Wawrinka and Bernard Tomic choose YONEX.

Stanislas Wawrinka has welcomed 2012 with a full change to YONEX. He leaves le croc and Head behind.

Pictured he wears the Yonex Mens Australian Open 2012 crew and short. The shirt is also available in dark red with orange (which was worn by Lleyton Hewitt).

Thr inset below shows off the reverse side of this shirt. Big back graphics continue to make a statement. I'm a fan,

The on-court line is made with 100% very cool poly that reflects the suns rays and keeps body temp. down.

Bernard Tomic is another newbie to YONEX - racquet use only. His apparel is Nike - both Tomic and Wawrinka play with the VCORE98D.

“It has been a great start," said Tomic. "I'm enjoying playing with YONEX because there was a long process trying racquets and working choosing the right length and width. I'm happy to find it and it's gonna be a good start this year and I will be better this year..."

So far so good. RF was the one to stop him in Australia. Nice run though (for both guys).

Find a retailer at Yonex.

 

Feliciano Lopez. Now available in Wilson.

Although Feliciano Lopez is out of the Australian Open I'm happy to note (albeit belatedly) that the Spaniard is now wearing Wilson. I'm certainly not saying he looked bad in Joma (not possible) but boo for us, the brand was not available in much of the world. 

Pictured here during an early round AO win, Lopez wears the hot looking new Wilson Laser Speed Crew (check out the back) and Laser Speed Short, white with orange blaze and pool. His shoes are Wilson Tour Ikon. Stick? Juice 100.

Best of all, the line is available worldwide. Have to say, some designers are going way to nuts with all over prints these days. This one is a keeper.

More love for Feliciano Lopez here.

 Find a retailer at Wilson or buy soon at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldide.

 

Rafael Nadal's Australian Open Court Style by Nike

And so we turn to Rafael Nadal's look at Australian Open 2012. If you've been watching you've noticed, more super bright. The tennis fashion gods must be trying to awaken us from the recession.

I like the shoulder details on this tennis shirt though, modern day epaulets for the commander, $68 (Hey it's got the bull logo so no griping lol). No sew seams on the shoulders mean no chafing. The color is good on someone with a darker skin tone. It's called the Spring Rafa Finals crew. Did someone tell Nike something we ought to be betting on?

 

White, long (23" inseam on the large) loose fitting "Finals" shorts in white, $68. No drawstring here, a hook and bar closure insures a sleek line. Nadal wears his shirts tight, no lumps allowed. The RAFA N98 jacket is right, $95.

Nadal's shoe is the Nike Air Court Ballistec 4.3.

Find it all at Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

And the RF style wheel says RED for AO 2012. Roger Federer at Australian Open.

Looking back over the last four years of Roger Federer court wear reveals the man's penchant for tennis shirts in a rotating sequence of red, grey, blue or white. Aside from AO 11 when Rog added a dash of bright yellow to a white polo, our top gun plays it safe, classic and handsome. Australian Open 2012 is no exception.

PIctured is the action red Nike Federer Smash Stripe tennis Polo, $84 (thi$ is an RF $hirt kid$) and Nike Match Woven shorts, $50. He's pairing it with the new influenced-by-him, Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour tennis shoe, $130.00. The shirt also comes in white.

A sleek, un-rumpled khaki tennis jacket that pulls in the grey stripe on the shirt, ties the look together, $120.

Have to say I'm glad to see Fed working a polo once again. Not a fan of him in anything but and they have tried enough times to worry me when a new collection is coming out.

A video explaining all that went into and is the new and improved shoe is below:

 

 

 I personally haven't tried it but definitely like its vibe.

 

 

John Isner signs le croc.

Lacoste has entered a four year partnership with John Isner both on and off the tennis court. He joins fellow big-serving American Andy Roddick in wearing the French brand.

The Crocodile insignia symbolizes Lacoste founder Rene Lacoste's tenacity on court, something Isner and Nicolas Mahut absolutely showed in their record breaking 11 hour, 5 min match back Wimbledon 2010. Mahut fittingly, is also sponsored by Lacoste. 

Isner, who looks best in looser fitting styles should look good in Lacoste. Preppy for sure, but good.

 

 

David Ferrer's Australian Open court style from Lotto.

Congrats to David Ferrer who won the 2012 Heineken Open in Auckland for the third time. He now takes Lotto's winning Trail Line kit to the Australian Open. 

We've been looking at a lot of knock out brights for spring and the new Trail Line group has huge blasts of it as well (see the pink crew inset below). Ferrer's AO look however is dosed more subtly. It's a great option for those who prefer classic performance solids but want to add just a bit of modern. There's a great looking navy polo in the group as well.

Pictured here is the bright white Trail crew neck accented by deep navy color blocking and sweeping fluorescent blue and navy brush strokes that mimic the arcing swing of a strong player.

Both shirt and shorts are made with poly ottoman, a fiber that contributes to very lightweight garments that breath and move well.

Ferrer's shoes are the Raptor Ultra III offering reactive arch technology, breathability and durability.

 Find it at Lotto and soon at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Andy Murray, Fernando Verdasco + Jo Wilfried Tsonga tango in new adidas tennis.

These are the adidas looks that Andy Murray, Fernando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be sporting in Australia 2012. The color and graphics scream energy, a real visual pick-me-up for northerners this time of year. Are you game? 

 Interestingly the color Tangerine Tango was picked as the 2012 color of the year by the color gods at Pantone and adidas's designers have hit the sweet spot dead on.

Murray is wearing the barricade collection spring barricade crew tee, $45 and short, $55 made to move with climacool ventilation and Formotion design. Shoes are Barridade 7.0, $140. He wore them  at the '11  finals in England. 

Fernando Verdasco is wearing adizero, the spring adizero crew tee, $60 and Bermudas, $50. More climacool and formation here. His shoes are the lightweight adizero feather, $125 in can't take your eyes off 'em electricity (yellow), high energy (orange) and white.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is in the adizero Theme Polo, $60 (also comes as a tee) and Bermudas. He wears the same shoes as Verdasco. His look uses the orange but in a far more subtle way.

Hot stuff, loose fitting and not too pretty. Mix it up boys and go with what makes your game tick.

Find it at adidas, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

 

Truckin' on. Andy Roddick at Bloomie's Lacoste Shop. Win a signed trucker hat.

Andy Roddick stepped off court to hit the NYC Bloomingdale's Lacoste shop Wednesday to promote his Andy Roddick line of apparel. Decked in red as bright as his tennis shoes (tis the season after all), Roddick signed away and chatted with fans. Gentleman that he is, he didn't wear his trucker hat inside, BUT...

Score!!! I got one for you. One luckyTennisIDENTITY reader/tweeter gets a swank new Lacoste trucker hat signed by Andy at the Bloomies event. Leave a comment below this post or RT on Twitter to enter.**

**Rules: Enter to win one NEW (with tags) white Lacoste Trucker cap signed by Andy Roddick by leaving a note for AR below or retweeting this post on Twitter with @TennisIdentity included. Last entry will be accepted December 17, 2011 at midnight EST. One entry per email/twitter address. Winner will be chosen by random draw on December 18, 2011 and posted after the winner has responded. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. If you use Twitter to enter you must follow @TennisIdentity in order to be eligible. Email addresses will ONLY be used to contact you if selected. Good luck!

Wilson serves up spring/summer '12. An interview with ace tennis designer Claire Ortiz.

Wilson has just released its third full tennis fashion collection, since its revitalization. "Future Modern," as it's called,  will be worn by the 18 players now wearing Wilson on tour. Anne Keothavong, Alex Kusnetsov, Jarkko Nieminen and those pictured here are just a handful.

Wilson's fashion growth can be credited to Claire Ortiz, Global Apparel Director, and her team:

What aspects of designing for tennis do you enjoy most? I love the beginning stages, the research that goes into the colors and designs. I hit trade shows, auto shows, fashion shows all over the world and spend a lot of time researching fabrics and colors. It's 3 to 4 months before designs are put to paper.

Where do you pull inspiration from? I pull trends from all over the world. I love looking at what designers like Alexander McQueen and Chanel do, for example. Their crafting, detailing, pleats, turn of a cuff, or use of color is always wonderful. I'm a stickler for beautifully crafted products.

Isn't it hard to incorporate these kinds of fashion details into performance products? It's challenging. Yes, we want our garments to be beautiful but the technical component to the pieces is critical. I want an athlete to put something on and never have to adjust it, no matter how hard they are working. A detail can be lovely but if it's going to irritate in any way it cannot be incorporated. I want my garments to feel as if they are not there. 

Has fabric technology changed the design process? I spend a lot of time choosing materials and do exhaustive fit testing. I'm always looking for new fabrics that will make the athlete more comfortable and the options are growing. New to our 2012 lines are liquid stretch and 3 color burnout which translates to ease of movement and seamless construction. When added to an already lightweight and breathable fabrication the technology makes a big difference to the athlete.

Do your athletes get to offer their input? Absolutely, and there are some that have more opinions than others. Philipp Kohlshreiber has some very specific ideas about what's cool and trendy and Melanie Oudin lends a young freshness to what we put together. 

Do you see big differences worldwide in what recreational players wear on court? Color is viewed differently in different regions. Latin America loves color as does Spain, Italy and France. In the US, color is accepted; women  enjoy it and it's growing on men. Car colors have always been most comfortable with American guys but as auto manufacturers move into brighter hues, so do US men.

Fit is a little different worldwide. US men tend to like their clothing looser than their European counterparts. Women are really the most progressive gender and have a broader acceptance within the women's range worldwide.

What about age? How do you design for the wide variety of ages playing tennis?10 -15 years ago the perception was that women were not young at age 35. That notion is gone and women are working harder to stay fit and they want to feel good about themselves. They want fashionable and fun and choose what feels and looks good no matter the style.

Check out the collection as it rolls out soon at tennis retailers worldwide including Tennis-Warehouse. Me? I'm getting that Sweet Spot set no question.

Find a retailer at Wilson. VIDEO of the line in action here.

 

Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga change it up for London.

Andy Murray will have a new look when he steps on court at the O2 in London Sunday. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga too.

The polo shirt print (left) looks to be a modern twist on a Scottish plaid but is far more suitable than something buttoned-up traditional. I like Andy on the wilder side. 

The colors are high-energy orange, prime blue and collegiate navy. The shirt also comes in white and as a crew (below). The polo is $50 USD, the crew $45. The coordinating knit shorts are $45. I wouldn't mind either of these shirts with white or black shorts however.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is expected to wear the new crew (right). Watch for it on the Frenchman in blue or white. I'm predicting blue since he loves color. 

Andy's shoes? They are the just-out adidas barricade 7.0. He's the only one in them at the moment.

Check out the barricade 7.0 promo here on TennisIDENTITY. You could win a pair for your game.

 Find the new adidas performance line only at tennis retailers like Tennis-Warehouse beginning in December.

 

Tough eco-friendly love for your tennis apparel.

The laundry detergent you use matters. If you read the care labels on your tennis apparel you've likely seen an increase in instructions designed to keep specially treated fabrics working the way they should. What you are using could be washing out a lot of what you've paid for.

An option to consider: Roux Maison makes a new eco-friendly Sport Detergent that eliminates dirt, odor and bacteria that can thrive and hang in technical workout wear. The synthetic-free biodegradable formula is gentle on performance fabrics, maintaining elasticity, breathing and wicking qualities. And yes, it truly does get that stink out.

The formula is available in Ambrosia and Sweet Tea scents as well as Fragrance Free; $16.99 USD for a 16 oz bottle that will do 40 loads of wash (.42 cents a load). Just two tiny capfuls per load? Believe me it's all you need. Don't add more.

Buy online at Roux Maison.

Andy Murray aligns with the Dragon in Asia.

Check out Andy Murray's new kicks. Just out, they're the adidas Barricade 6.0 Dragon Edition, a fierce warrior like change-up to the tennis shoes Murray has been wearing this year.

The new issue celebrates the Chinese Year of the Dragon (2012), a nod to the culture of the country hosting Andy in October. 

According to legend the Dragon symbolizes good fortune and power. A dragon personality is free spirited, driven and self-directed.

Murray looks to have been born during the year of the rabbit (1987) so some dragon karma might be a good thing for him.

The shoe's metallic finished outer is outfitted with dragonlike scales that help the shoe breath (looks a little like armour too). A tough looking exterior for a durable shoe.

A red on black dragon-inspired print covers the outside of the tongue and heel collar. A bright red dragon symbol adorns the heel and tongue.

Retail price is $120.00 USD. 

Find them only at specialty tennis retailers including Tennis-Warehouse.

 

 

 

Melanie Oudin and Jack Sock BELIEVE in Wild Cards and having fun.

Sometimes it's best not to plan ahead. No expectations. Melanie Oudin may have found her groove again, in doubles...mixed doubles. Wildcards, Oudin and Jack Sock (ATP tour newcomer), won the 2011 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship Friday. Their most impressive win en route? Over defending champs Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan (both #1 dubs WTA and ATP).

Hugs and smiles all around. American tennis ain't so bad. 

It's been a tough few years since Miss Oudin rose up out of the juniors and into the spotlight. Remember BELIEVE? Apparently Mel does once again and on the very same stage no less. Sock helped for sure.

Mixed doubles is a tough game at the recreational level where many men in particular struggle to temper their serves and strokes so as not to appear rudely aggressive. No worries at higher levels where everyone just blasts away at their very best. Sock and Oudin say they were just having fun.

Their looks? Oudin wore the new Wilson Fall Village tank and skort in union gold, white and pool blue; both pieces are $45 USD each. Fresh and pretty, the ruched bodice and flirty skirt adds femininity to the a comfy athletic cut. Sock wore all adizero adidas -- same look as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Find Oudin's look at Wilson, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers world wide.

A license to leave the US Open in good spirits.

Everyone needs a souvenir from the US Open and this New York plate adorned shirt is among my favs this year. Check out Lady Liberty who has discreetly traded torch for racquet.

The tee is from the Heineken Tennis Classics by Sol Angeles limited ed. collection available ONLY in the Heineken Lounge at the US Open 2011.

Fashionably distressed to look and feel super comfy, it's an absolute go-to for everyday cool-casual, $40 USD (yeah...I KNOW...but it's really nice).

It's a DMV free NY tennis license with spirits on the side.

V-neck not for you? There are 5 other pieces in the collection. 

 

 

Janko Tipsarevic US Open 2011. Tennis Fashion and Eyewear.

I continue to be surprised at how few on-tour tennis athletes wear eye protection on-court in the blazing sun. Janko Tipsarevic is one who very smartly does. Pictured above at the US Open he wears prescription photochromic Oakley Fast Jackets. Switchlock technology allows you to quickly switch lenses with changing light; a great option for a long match outdoors. They start at $220 USD without prescription. 

The Serb is also wearing the new and classically styled Fila Heritage Crew and short in New York. Both are $45 USD. The polished looking set reflects past signature red white and blue Fila styles (how fitting at the USO) while meeting today's performance needs. The 100% poly fabrics are loose fitting, UV protective and wicking. Built in mesh panels insure breathability. If you're not a bright's guy, the shirt comes in a few other colors including white.  

Wishing Janko luck vs friend and fellow Serb Novak Djokovic in the next round. Whatever happens, Janko will do it in style, intelligent tattoos included.

Find it at Oakley, Fila, Tennis Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Donald Young, bright as his bling. New racquet from Prince.

Donald Young (USA) remarked in his press conference yesterday that he enjoys wearing bright colors when he's feeling good. My guess is he's feeling pretty d. great right now. Fitting that he's wearing Sonic Yellow, sonic alluding to the speed of light (hence the printed soundwaves). The guy has wheels...and attitude.

Awesome to see him rising to the Open occasion. Left is his Nike Showdown Frequency Crew, $45 USD. Flash next to his big bling, slightly off-center cap and killer smile. 

Right is the Sonic version former US Open Champ Juan Martin delPotro (Argentina) wore, the Nike Showdown Frequency. The optic magic didn't serve my Argentine as long as the Donald. Perhaps he needs diamond studs??? No, NA. 

Both shirts are Dri-Fit with flat-lock seams for comfort. I like the Showdown Taped Men's shorts, $50 to go with the tops. Really sharp in a not-to-matchy sort of way.

Find it at Nike and Tennis-Warehouse.

Racquet note: Donald Young has switched to a Prince tennis racquet. According to Prince, Young tested Prince frames in December 2010 for the first time. He chose the EXO3 Tour 100 (16x18) to keep for longer testing. He played with it in Washington at the ATP 500 for the first time and reached his first career semifinals of an ATP event.  

Currently in the 4th round of the US Open, I'd say the racquet is doing good things for his game. No word on an official contract at this time.

Roger Federer at the US Open. Tennis fashion day and night.

Like Rafa, Maria, Serena and Novak, Roger Federer will wear one look for day and one for night at the US Open. Usually it's just a color change that makes the difference in the am/pm changes.This year, however, Roger will change color AND shirt silhouettes.

I know...rock my world, but it is different for Roger who is fairly tame with his styles. For the last few years Roger has steadily worn white, red, blue or grey for Slams and he does not break from that trend in '11 NY.

Day, Federer will wear a seamless bright sport red crew, $75 USD; night, a more serious, very city grey polo, $80. Only the thin red racing stripe down the back and on the collar alludes to the intense energy being expended on court (see shirt under video).

Below Janice Lucena of Nike presents the RF adorned styles:

 

Here's the night shirt: It's handsome and would look great with black or white shorts (the challenger men's short goes with these shirts, $50).

Roger will wear the polo with the same anthracite grey shorts striped with red but he's Roger and can do stuff like that. An inset pic of the shirt back is right.

Federer's tennis shoes are the Nike Lunar Vapor 8, $120. Stealth looking. Lightweight for Roger's dancing feet.

 

Find it all at Nike, Tennis Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Day and night at the US Open. Rafael Nadal in new Nike.

 When you play high voltage tennis like Rafael Nadal you need a bright kit. This one's hot. I like that it doesn't have the look of a uniform. 

Pictured left is Rafa's US Open day look, the Ace Rafa Court Crew in treasure blue $65, and white short. Both are replicated for night play in white (right) with sonic yellow and solid black shorts.

The print is a sublimated graphic that resembles shot-spot hits clustered into court lines. The back and sleeves of the shirt are set with fully breathable mesh - no print on back. A thin line of sonic yellow runs down each side. 

Here's a detail pic on the crew:

The shorts are mens Ace woven, long, like Rafa likes 'em, $66. 

Nadal's tennis shoes are the Air Max Court Ballistic 3.3, $125, extra durable in the toe area and branded with Rafa's signature bull and battle cry. They come in a variety of colors including the blue that matches the day shirt. 

Find it all at Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Click here for a video on Rafa's US Open 2011 look.

Mardy Fish and bros Bryan to hit the US Open in new K-Swiss.

The US men of K-Swiss will each be wearing something a little different this year, offering a look at the full new K-Swiss men's tennis line.

American #1, Mardy Fish, will be competing in the Stripes Polo (really like this one), white base left $55, and stretch stripe short $50. 

# 1 ATP dubs impresarios, Bob and Mike Bryan, will wear both the Fade Crew, below $55, and Spliced Polo $50, with the Training Woven short. 

All three players will wear the line touched by energetic striped graphics and gradiated color that's a soft mossy green. It's a nice hue in an understated way.

The shirts are made of a very thin, loose fitting performance poly pique. The printed design is front-only and full back mesh panel adds to ventilation.The group is available in three other colors  (blue, red and grey/white) as well as the green.

Tennis shoe for the boys? The Big Shot, $125. We all know Monfils loves this shoe.

Find it all at K-Swiss, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Sam Querrey, who has unfortunately withdrawn from the Open with an injury, would have competed in both the Stripes Crew $50, and Spliced Crew $45, with the Stretch Stripe Short. Heal quickly Sam. We'll catch you in it all next tourney.

Novak Djokovic's 2011 US Open Kit by Sergio Tacchini

Sergio Tacchini has unveiled what's next in its Novak Djokovic tennis line.This one's for the US Open 2011. Let's hope Djokovic's shoulder heals quickly so we get to see it in action.

 Pictured above is the day look, NAX polo  and NIM shorts in white with navy piping. Clean and classic.

For night the look will alternate to a more interesting solid navy with coral piping accented with white -- see inset.

Special all-mesh construction under the sleeves and down the sides (seam free) and S.TECH fabrication ensure breathability.

The similarly themed Niro tee, cap, racquet bag and warmup/tracksuit complete the group. No prices yet.

Find it soon at  Tennis-Warehouse or other Sergio Tacchini retailers worldwide.

Nike tennis is in the customization game. Shoes for style, fit + surface.

 

Never one to be outdone Nike is now offering customized tennis kicks. U-pick durability, fit, traction, width, color and message. One surface tough to shop for in the US is grass. As they say, "there's an app for that" here $145.00 USD.

Zoom Breath 2K11 iD at NikeiD.com. Find them under mens or women's tennis.

Polo Ralph Lauren returns with a winner at the US Open.

Applause for Polo Ralph Lauren who will once again dress the on-court staff at the US Open; there is something much cooler about some of their new color charged classics. I love the dashes of neon brights. Makes refined look a lot more fun.

Included is an array of sleek performance fashion with a vibrant, tri-color palette of navy, white, bright green and neon orange. Really interesting how a quick infusion of bright can make such a difference in energy. 

My picks in the group include, the US Open Big Pony Zip Jacket, $165 USD (poly/elastane blend, above left). Below, the women's US Open Big Pony Polo (97% cotton) which also comes in pink and white. The flounce microfiber skirt ($98) is very cute on.

The US Open Crosscourt Hat for $39.50, below, is the lowest priced item in the group, if you only want a little piece of the action.

As Official Apparel Sponsor of the 2011 Open, look for select PRL pieces on chair umpires, line umpires and ball persons. 

Find it at the US Open's Polo Ralph Lauren shop during the tournament, at select stores and online at Ralph Lauren. Type US Open Tennis into the search bar.

Fernando Verdasco, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga + Andy Murray, the men of adidas US Open 2011

First up, Verdasco, god of wearing color well, gets graphic in a new adizero Feather tee in and feather Bermuda shorts (stripe detail in the fabric). See the shirt right for best red/infrared color.

The shoes (how about these babies?!) are adizero Feather as well, $120.00. Shirt $55, Shorts $50.

It's a pretty cool graphic if you study it. The designer took a color block, sliced and tilted it creating the illusion of adidas logo-size triangles dynamically falling from the solid. This shirt begs to move. 

Tsonga will wear the like adizero Feather polo with modern zip neck and collar, $60. White base and solid red (cripes, it looks purple here again but it's more burgundy red as below left). Same shorts and shoes as Verdasco. 

 

The adizero group does a great job keeping you cool and ventilated as you move and stretch. Take a look at the inset right for a close up of the vent on the blue version of the feather polo. There is similar ventilation built in the inseam of the shorts.

 Murray will wear all adidas Barricade; the group is by nature more traditional, the tamer of the two collections. It suits Andy's athletic scruffy look (although he's tidied up nicely for this shot).

This is going to look great against the blue and white that is Center Court at the Open (he's going to be there right?)

His top is the Barricade tee in red, $55, with a dash of intense green at the neck. The back has the funky looking panel of mesh we've started to see built into performance shirts. I'm getting used to the look of it. It really does help in the heat. Shorts are $45. Shoes, Barricade 6.0 $125.00. Andy's sig resides inside.

Find it all at adidas, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Round-Up: Headbands for tennis

There are two kinds of headbands for tennis, those designed to keep sweat out of your eyes and those that keep hair out of your face.

First, the sweat managers:

Nike's swoosh bandanas are 100% cotton (stays wet while sweating), $12. If you've got the face and hair, these look darn good (case in point on left). adidas, K-Swiss and Fila, also make a tie variety (all are poly blend).

Right, by adidas, are the more traditional cotton terry variety, 75% cotton with stretch, $5.99 for two. Let's just say it's a very functional style. I see a lot of these on men. Fila, Nike, K-Swiss and Lacoste also make them.

bondiband makes a thin sweat wicking headband in multiple colors and fun/motivational prints, $8.00. All are meant to be worn across the forehead or at the hairline (as pictured here). They are attractive and very quick-drying (so you are never wearing a soaking band). Look for the one with crossed tennis racquets in the sport section. They carry quite a few men's styles as well. 

Second, the hair managers:

Women who wear these do not feel comfortable with a headband across their forehead. Problem is, comfortable, functional, hair-taming bands are hard to find because most slip unless sitting at the hairline or forehead. Many wear hard u shaped plastic bands.

What you need to look for are headbands with strips of silicone gripper tape on the side against your hair. Yoga manufacturers like Lululemon sell these. Their Slipless Headband, $12, is pictured here. I've also seen silicone lined bands at Athleta. I am not finding them yet in branded tennis apparel.

Find adidas, Nike, Fila, K-Swiss and Lacoste headbands at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Fila brings back Boris Becker.

No that's not Boris but click through these pics of Becker from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 

Fila continues its run at the 80's with this redux of a look Becker wore back in his number-one days. Retooled for today's game with all the technical stuff you expect now, this jacket is going to stand out on court. Retro fans and those with court-loads of confidence will love it.

The coordinating polo, shorts and sweat pants are far tamer (the latter two are both solid peacoat blue) so if you just want to dabble in the look there's the toned down option. That said, I know some of you can pull this jacket off. 

The print is thin wavy brushstrokes in colors called turkish sea and peacoat navy. 

The new Fila Boris Becker jacket will run you $90; polo, $60; and pants $70. All comfortable poly spandex lined with mesh (neither shiny nor noisy). No word on who will be wearing this on the pro court. Anyone want to venture a guess?

Find it at Fila, Tennis Warehouse and Fila retailers worldwide.

 

Fila celebrates 100 years. Newport joins the party.

Fila has been around since 1911. Pictured are select pieces from their 100 year commemorative collection. The group, for both men and women, includes the 100 year zip jacket, pique polo shirt, reversible bucket hat, tennis shoe and duffle bag. All are adorned with the Fila F and 100 year logo.

Classic ehh? Only cut and fabrication have been modified from original designs to reflect modern tastes. I'm filing much of it under tennis lifestyle, great looking stuff to get you to and from the courts and in between.

Rolling out over the course of 2011 however are a few special Fila reincarnations definitively designed for the surface of your choice. They are called  "Champion's Collections" and hail from Fila's rich fashion archives. Kim Clijsters won AO in a special Yvonne Goolagong look in Australia and played in a pink and purple Monica Seles look-alike at Roland Garros. More to come. 

Headed to Newport? Just opened is a special Fila exhibit at The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHOF).

"...Our mission is to preserve and showcase the history of tennis, with the goal of honoring the legends and inspiring tennis fans," said Mark Stennig, CEO of the ITHOF. From Borg's Wimbledon victories to Seles'  French Open title, Fila has been an integral partner in great moments in tennis history and we are pleased to celebrate their milestone anniversary by showcasing [Fila's] rich history to our visitors," 

The first exhibit in a rotating display is White Line, Fila's original white tennis collection. All exhibits, photography, films and memorabilia come from Fila's 100th Anniversary Museum, recently opening in the Province of Biella, Italy. Although I am drinkin' the kool aid, Newport is as close as this tenista is going to get for now. Ciao.

Find the 100 year collection at Fila and Tennis-Warehouse. Champions Collection pieces are also available at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

 

Andy Murray's Wimbledon whites by adidas.

So if you are a relaxed dresser on court, meaning you like the looser fit, more casual style classics, you will love Andy Murray's look at Wimbledon.

He's wearing top to bottom adidas Barricade: crew in white, $55 USD, shorts, $45 and shoes, the Barricade grass 6.0 ( special for grass* not available at retail). The 6.0's for hard courts are $125.00.

The shirt also comes as a polo but I really like this casual looking crew a lot. Accents of intense green and royal blue add modern pop. It comes in XS-XXL sizes which makes the big bears awfully happy.

You can't see but this top has excellent cooling qualities in its mesh construction. Bonded seams contribute to total comfort.

*For those that haven't seen grass court shoes, they have a dimpled bottom almost like a tiny nubbed golf shoe.They are just about impossible to find in the US. They trash grass courts which is one of the reasons they hand them out so selectively.

Here's Murray's full look. I like.

 

 

Find it at adidas , adidas Performance stores (LOVE the one in NYC), Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide beginning late July.

 

Roger Federer's Wimbledon whites. Tennis fashion 2011.

Roger Federer's look for Wimbledon is crisp and clean, traditional only in concept as this stuff is super technical; sonic welding means no seams, 4 way stretch and Dri-Fit means comfort and breathability.  

I really do like the visual cleanse the all-whites look offers and think Roger is his most elegant, crafty self in the color. 

The shirt is a winner in the wide world of polos. It's called the Nike trophy lawn polo and costs $80. Two reasons for the price: technology and brand Roger. 

The laser cut RF (click the pic) at the base of the placket IS sharp and the simple dash of classy gorge green across the shoulder, down the sides, and in the logos picks up on all that Wimby green surround. This shirt would look great with white or black shorts.

 

There's hot looking jacket to go with it all as well (look for the trophy knit jacket, $140).

Roger's shoes are the Nike Lunar Vapor 8 Tour, $120 (I LOVE them) and shorts with subtle herringbone print and ventilation panels, $50. 

For a look at the thinking behind Roger Federer's tennis fashion in London, check out the video on the TennisIDENTITY Youtube page.

Find it all at Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon whites. Tennis fashion 2011.

And so we turn to tennis whites. Our boy, usually decked in the brightest of hues, looks positively angelic in head to toe white accented ever so slightly with thin strips of treasure blue.

If there's anything to talk about here it's the fabric. Nike marches on coming up with even more ways to make fabrics breathe, stretch, and move with no bother to the athlete. 

A close look at Rafa's new shirt, the Ace Lawn Crew, reveals an all over engineered jacquard mesh for breathability; it's smartly laid wider under the arms. The white on white print is a nod to court lines, ribbons on the grass. Sonic welding keeps seams from chafing.

Rafa's Ace shirt runs $65 USD, the fall woven shorts, also $65. Mesh on the inseams lets heat out. His tennis shoes, the Nike Air Court Ballistic 3.3 will run you $125.

Nice, clean look for All-England. Allows us to focus on Rafa's magic ehh? 

Find it all at Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

For a video description Rafa's Wimbledon tennis fashion, visit the TennisIDENTITY Youtube page.

Lacoste serves up an Andy Roddick signature tennis collection.

The croc is biting bigger into tennis with Lacoste's new Andy Roddick collection. The logo is Roddick's sig next to set-to-serve-another-ace-bomb Andy.

The group will be available in Lacoste retail shops internationally beginning July 1, 2011. According to the company, Roddick won't wear any of it until the start of the US Open. 

The colors are a many-complexion-loving night blue with accents of white and eclipse blue.

Pictured are two Andy Roddick 100% performance poly pique knit super dry polos, Both are $88 USD. The first has a traditional button placket, the second, a more modern zip neck. Both have a split tail hem and no those are not cuffs on the first shirt. It's an illusion because of the white stripe atop the sleeves.

The track jacket, is a heavier weight and very handsome run-resistant pique (100% poly) in the darker of the two blues. There are two pairs of tennis shorts as well, $85, white or night blue with small sections of in-color theme color blocking on the sides of each leg.

The special Andy Roddick logo is embroidered on all of the the pieces and on the interior tag right below that crocodile.

No word yet on if this collection will be available online. I'll update when I know.

UPDATE: 8/1 It's in at Tennis-Warehouse! 

 

 

Yonex releases enhanced line of Power Cushion Tennis shoes.

Leveraging the success of its previous models, the newly released Yonex tennis shoes retain the cushioning characteristics and lightweight feel synonymous with past Power Cushion Tennis shoes and add a lot more.

Yonex says that the new 3-Layer Power Cushion now absorbs 30% more shock and provides 5% more repulsion than the original Power Cushion. In addition, Tough Brid Technology provides greater elasticity and shape retention. As a result the shoe continues to provide a high level of cushioning performance even under the stress of high impact footwork.

Complementing the cushioning of the shoe are technological enhancements that improve breathability, flexibility, stability, durability and lightness.

There are 7 new tennis shoes in the line-up. The Power Cushion 307, $125 USD is above left (also in black and yellow, below, special for clay surfaces) and Power Cushion 108, $90, right.

I really like the gold and black model. Really sharp without too much flash.

There are mens and women's shoes in the new range. All of the above pictured are men's.

Find more info at Yonex or buy at Tennis-Warehouse or tennis retailers worldwide.

 

 

Andy Murray Roland Garros Tennis Fashion 2011 by adidas

Andy Murray slides into Paris in a very beau blue from the new adidas Barricade Collection. Simple and straightforward, this is a common look in rec tennis, loose fitting shirt, baggier shorts -- tops and bottoms that don't totally match (like many outfits we're seeing this season do). The lightweight shirt in fresh blue is great looking on Murray and on the clay. A good color for most guys actually and this polo doesn't look too buttoned up. I like the accent of intense green on the snap placket that picks up the slice of green on the shorts. Subtle.

This group is all Barricade: Polo, $40 USD and woven shorts in white with dash of green on the leg, $45. A close-up of the shirt in black is right. The shirt also comes in a crew version and in a few different colors.

Murray's shoes, the Barricade 6.0 Andy Murray clay (colors match his Paris kit) will run you $125 and are specially designed for clay court play (click on the image to see a close up of the sole).

Find it at: adidas under tennis and Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Novak Djokovic Roland Garros Tennis Fashion 2011.

The Sergio Tacchini kit Novak Djokovic introduced in Rome lives on in Paris. Seven matches over the shirt's rainbow lies the clay court title the world's #2 doesn't have. Unbeaten in 39 matches so far this season, he comes into Roland Garros very strong.

Big-impact color and graphics are the distinguishing features of this new apparel line from Sergio Tacchini.The flag of Djokovic's homeland Serbia, inspires the graphics, reworked in a flowing, rainbow-like banner across the chest, a nod to the historic brand's stripes.

Skinny undulating waves of the rainbow dance on the sides of the shorts, back of the shirt and jacket.

Fabrics are both super soft and stretchy for unrestricted movement; construction with all-mesh sides offers breathability.

Djokovic will wear white for day matches and black for night. The range is rounded out by a matching cap and  track-suit. 

Find it soon at: Sergio Tacchini, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Djokovic's tennis shoes? Very, very likely custom adidas Barricade 6. He is not on contract with adidas so I can't confirm. You could make something similar at miadidas.com. 

Jo Wilfried Tsonga. adidas Tennis Fashion Roland Garros 2011

Jo Wilfried Tsonga will wear new Roland Garros Collection adiAce adidas in Paris. Mais oui he is French so of course he gets the signature goods.

The zip-neck shirt has a low stand up collar and strong, upward moving graphics. All ClimaCool it appears to take influence from a fitted biker's jersey. It looks by-far the best worn unzipped. Use the image right for best color representation of what's available to us hackers of the world. 

Tsonga's Bermuda style shorts are adidas Roland Garros group elastic waist shorts and come in lead and white and run $45. His shoes are the adiZero Feather, $120.

I am a big fan of gray with brights and think this group is pretty sweet. Check out the polos as well. Any old white tennis shirt would be great with the shorts, a sharp alternative to white or black for those who don't do colored shorts.

Tsonga's tennis shoes are the adiZero feather but there's a nice pair of Roland Garros branded Response shoes out as well.

Keep your eye on Tsonga; I would love to see a good run in Paris. I am a big fan.

Find it at: adidas under tennis and Tennis-Warehouse (exclusive retailer-besides adidas- for the adidas Roland Garros line)

Fernando Verdasco. adidas Tennis Fashion Roland Garros 2011

Fernando Verdasco broke out his Roland Garros 2011 look in Rome.  X marks the spot where the Spaniard will play in Paris as well.

This version of the adidas adizero Spring crew is vibrant orange zest with an artsy off-center graphic. Kind of goes with the guy and his hair. Definitely more for the unconventional kind of guy

Verdasco has worn the crew in a few of its colorful incarnations: fresh pink and intense green. It also comes in black and white.

The shirt is all for-motion design -- love that buttery feel -- $55; shorts, the adizero Bermuda (light and loose with faux fly), $45; and shoes, adizero Feather $120. The shorts also come in intense green and white. Check out the black based shirt with white shorts.

Find it at: adidas , Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Tennis Fashion at Roland Garros: Roger Federer French Open Nike 2011

And so Roger gets his polo back, this one red as a race-car. It's the refined, in-control handsome we've grown to love on the guy.

Federer's French Open polo will be this Nike RF Trophy stripe tennis shirt in sport red with team red and white, $80. Updates from past polos include a super high-quality lightweight dri-fit, a collar and placket with window-pane detail and "sonic welded seams" for zero discomfort. The yarn died stripe is woven right in and is quite subtle, adding a more youthful, sporty feel to an otherwise traditional cut.

Federer's shorts are constructed of dri-fit woven fabric with a herringbone print and classic tennis short detail; a tailored look (complete with button back pocket) with modern day stretch built in. Alas, we mortals will not be offered this exact short. The version we get is a more simple elastic pull-on with faux fly construction and a zip back pocket, $50. 

Federer's tennis shoe is the Nike Lunar Vapor 8 Tour, lightweight and supportive, built for light-stepping speed (dancing in Roger's case), $120 USD.

Will Rog see that checkered flag? Time will tell. 

Find it at: Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Tennis Fashion at Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal French Open Nike 2011

And suddenly we are in Paris...well almost but here's what Nike has planned for Rafael Nadal this year at Roland Garros. The guy loves color and comfort. He also appears to like a little creative edge given the graphics that are appearing on his shirts in surprising ways. Makes him all the more intriguing.

Nadal's shirt, the Tierra crew ($65 USD), is a beautiful photo blue that will be stunning against clay. It's a Dri-Fit striped jacquard crew (stripe is woven in) with a slight v-neck. ¡Vamos Rafa! is imprinted in white on the inside of the neck. The Nadal bull insignia is centered within a Moorish style print on the lower back which breaks out to drift up the back .

The shorts (Summer Woven, $65) are pretty classic in cut with a zipper, hook and bar clasp and velcro closure. Nothing's coming undone here no matter how hard you play. Rafa prefers a longer short. These are 12".

Everything is super lightweight and fast drying. Ventilation panels in key places allow a release of heat. Seams are bonded, not sewn, to prevent chafing. 

Rafa's tennis shoes are the newest version of the Nike Air Max Courtballistic 3.3, $125, more durable than ever. They are designed for the power player that's seriously rough on shoes. 

Find it all at: Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

Lotto! David Ferrer to play Sergiy Stakovsky in complimentary style.

David Ferrer hit the clay in Madrid wearing Lotto's handsome new Graphic Crew and Short. Sergiy Stakovsky, Ferrer's next opponent, did the same. It'll be an all-Lotto event. Looking forward to seeing what they show up in tonight.

The white with cyan shirt pictured here (taken in Monte Carlo) also come in Fanta orange and white with black accents. It's available as a polo as well. The crew cut and neckline mimic the style of a soccer (aka football) jersey, something I've seen becoming popular on court since 2009.

The top is $43 USD and shorts, $40 (elastic waist and built in brief). The discreet dotted graphic on the shirt is also at the top back of the shorts. Nice touch. The coordinating wristbands are $23

So what'll it be guys? Maybe they mix up the color scheme a bit but the blue and white does look sooo good against the clay.

Find it at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide or use the Lotto store locator.

Dunlop signs auspicious American Tim Smyczek.

Dunlop tennis has signed Tim Smycek, a hot-on-court Milwaukee native, to a racquet deal. His win last week against Donald Young in the 2011 USTA French Open Wild Card Playoffs earned him the coveted ticket to Roland Garros.

Smyczek is hitting with a Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour. 

"Tim is a great signing for Dunlop," said Kai Nitche, Vice President and General Manager of Dunlop Racket Sports. "He possesses the key characteristics we look for in our Tour Team members; he works extremely hard both on and off-court, he's dedicated, and he pulls through in clutch situations. It's been a pleasure to work with him thus far, and we wish him well as he continues his climb up the ATP World Tour rankings."

The 23 year old trains at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa and now makes his second appearance in a Grand Slam main draw; he won the USTA playoff last August to get into the US Open. This year he's continued his upward momentum by reaching the quarters in San Jose in February and the second round in Indian Wells after qualifying for the main draw. 

Smycek currently wears adidas apparel and footwear. Yeah, you're right, he's hot off court too ;)

Here's his website.

 

It was a work shirt for Roger Federer and jeans for Anna Wintour.

Did you notice Roger Federer's shirt in Miami? Collarless. That's a big change. He looked so, well..casual, ready to hit the town courts. Not a bad thing of course but this was Roger Federer. Alas even Anna Wintour was wearing jeans so everyone in club RF was feeling the mood.

Roger's change likely has more to do with what sells best but to me the grey, collarless crew neck symbolized that the guy has some work to do. Roger said so much himself after losing to Nadal in the semifinals.

So for the moment, no more over-the-top coordination like at the US Open 2010 or Wimbledon 2009. 

I actually like the new shirt (love grey and black together) and liked it on Roger but felt a little sad; like the emperor had lost his fine clothes. He was dressed like one of us and I missed the maestro.

 Find it at Nike, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Tennis fashion: Mardy Fish in Spring Men's K-Swiss. Pop art DPI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mardy Fish has been switching between this blue K-Swiss combo he wore in Indian Wells and a black and white version of the same in Miami.

Pictured above is the fading stripe crew ($45 USD) and 9" inseam spring training woven short in brilliant blue. The b/w zip neck polo version ($50) is right. Nice looking.  All made of quick dry performance material. 

The around-the-body print is a halftone dot design that connotes movement.  Fading, shrinking dots stride out from a tight center stripe. DPI (dots per inch) as art. Brings me back to shading with peel-off halftones.

I like this for the guy that wants a little extra pop on court but shies away from Miami brights .

Find it at K-Swiss, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

 

Watch: The 2010 Fila fashion show at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

 

Join the Fila fashion show at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and take a look at Spring 2010 plus a peek at what's on deck for Fall (men, women and kids). Most is for the tennis court, some is more lifestyle. Great colors including those hot pink ruffled shorties.

Still love all that retro. Keep it coming!

Brooks Brothers pushes Spring tennis classics.

Spring Brooks Brothers hit my mailbox recently and as could be predicted tennis classics are their m.o. for good looks on court. Not much featured for adults but lots for kids. The pics bring you right to the chic summer Hamptons.

The men's v-neck is cotton cashmere and runs $125 USD in a few colors. Online they've got a handsome bomber jacket and some very, very safe tennis basics (yawn) for women.

The kids' styles are part of the company's "fleece" collection, left to right: shawl collar sweater $89, tennis print tee $ 29, seersucker shorts, $54; girls nylon tennis jacket $90, pique tennis polo $45, navy tennis skirt, $45; short sleeve tennis sweater $55, sateen shorts, $40; argyle vest $ 69.50, knit tennis shorts, $49.50. Awww, so sweet.

Find the looks at Brooks Brothers.

Fila adds Australia to its line-up of Davis Cup themed tennis shirts.

Channel a little countryman's pride. Fila has added Australia to its growing collection of Davis Cup themed tennis shirts for men. Above left to right are Australia (which has not been played in yet), Croatia (made to look like a soccer shirt for huge fan Marin Cilic), Israel for Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, and Serbia (originally made for Janko Tipsarevic in 2010). Each runs $59 USD. No word on what country is next.

Find them exclusively at Tennis Warehouse.

 

Novak Djokovic fresh fresh and fortuitous.

Happy man. Djokovic debuted a fresh spring Sergio Tacchini tennis line at AO and has been on a winning streak ever since. The line has certainly been good to him. Next stop Indian Wells.

Gone are the tattoos. This is a more classic look bordering on rugby with the sash design, Pencey prep polish and sporty color blocking. The lightweight performance fabric has a bit of a sheen which adds modernity to what could look a tad RL if it were all cotton and thicker in weight.

Pictured here the Serb wears Sergio Tacchini's Spring Santese Polo and Secondo short in white with blue and orange. It also comes in black with grey and orange which is really handsome. The ND insignia brands the line. 

If you're not in the market for a head to toe ensemble, grab the shirt and pair with plain white shorts. If you're not a polo guy, take a look at the crew.

Find it at Sergio Tacchini, Tennis-Warehouse and tennis specialty retailers worldwide.

 

Is sun protection in tennis apparel a gimmick?

Have you ever gotten a sunburn through your clothes? Yeah I've heard you can get burned through your clothes but I never have. Where the clothes are no tan, no burn. So what's the big deal about sun protection built into apparel? It's in everything including the strappiest little tennis camis and dresses. Silly. If you are going to wear a skimpy top sunny skied mid-day you are either slathering on the sunblock or you are going for color.

What I'd like to see these companies make is tennis apparel that offers super lightweight, breathable coverage. Sun avoiders are getting heatstroke in the long sleeved garments out there.

Get to work guys. From the looks of the courts in Florida there are a lot of people playing tennis covered up and they look hot. 

Heee's Baaack! Juan Martin del Potro wins in Delray.

Welcome back Juan Martin. Wearing what's been called the color of the moment, del Potro did not drop a set at the Delray Beach International Championships in Florida. Must have felt damn good after his long recovery. 

This is the Nike Men's Spring Showdown Crew in crimson (it looks pretty orange to me) with bright mandarin. You might not have caught it but it has a great looking tonal sunburst jacquard mesh across the back. It comes in four other color combos but this is my fav paired with the Showdown short in black.

The exact version of the shirt does not appear to be available in the US. I see it at Tennis-Warehouse in Europe however.

I thought I didn't like orange. I've changed my mind.

 

 

ASICS releases new tennis footwear for 2011.

ASICS has released four new tennis shoes for 2011. I have never worn a pair of ASICS so I can't vouch for them personally but a review of chat on past lines comes up glowing. Comfort and cushioning are recurring words. I know players who swear by them for those reasons.

The new tennis line-up starts with the flagship GEL-Resolution 3 for $115 USD offering synthetic leather with form fitting support and stability. Pictured above is one of the women's models. It also comes in white with purple accents. An impact guidance system is said to enhance the foot's natural gait cycle and heel clutch system insures feet stay put. There is a six-month outsole guarantee on this shoe. The men's version is 13.7 oz and women's is 11.9 oz. Men's colors: black with yellow accents and white with red accents.

The GEL-Challenger 8 is $20 less than the Resolution 3. Priced at $95, this shoe is made of synthetic leather and mesh and offers GEL cushioned comfort and support, including personal heel fit without the extra bells and whistles and without the six month guarantee. A men's version is pictured right in black and lime. It's also available in white with black. In women's it comes in white with fashionable maui blue or boysenberry accents.

The GEL-Game 3, $75, is a  mid-level shoe for players who want to be light on their feet. The men's is 12.6 oz and women's 10.4 oz.  Again, fewer of the extras but a solid tennis shoe. Men's also comes in white with crimson. Women's: white with purple or white with green.

The GEL-Dedicate 2 , $65 is the least expensive version in the new ASICS line-up (not pictured). It is also the lightest shoe. Women's: white with blue. Men's: white with charcoal.

Find more info at ASICS (there is a store locater there) or buy at Tennis-Warehouse (men's or women's) or tennis retailers world wide. BTW Tennis-Warehouse offers a site 6 month sole warranty on ALL of these shoes. That's pretty nice for those of us that chew through shoes.