A programming note: we’re headed to NYC to help out with this Sunday’s AIDS Walk New York fundraiser. So posting maybe light, but you better believe that we’re keeping at least one eye on everything going on in Madrid. (The clothing has been dee-lish, no?)
Kisses!
I really don’t know what it is about seeing Pedro Almodovar at a tennis match that warms the cockles of my heart. Here he is watching Rafael Nadal take out Jurgen Melzer in the second round of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.
Bracketology: In Rafa’s quarter are Fernando Verdasco (who he’ll taken on if he beats Kohlschreiber in the third round) and then either Nole or Ivan Ljubicic.
(image via Getty Images)
Nike‘s spring lines run the gamut from bright colors (electrolime, imperial blue, coral orange) to more muted shades (peach and mist). Their designers are continuing the theme of contrast blocks, separating the straps from the torso with a horizontal stripe around the bust. What tickled our fancy is the pleating on their Day Skort, currently being worn by Victoria Azarenka and Dani Hantuchova.
We like this cover-up top, too.
Scoreline: 7th-seeded Azarenka swept aside Shuai Peng 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. Next up for her is Agi Szavay, and possibly Mauresmo and Kleybanova before the final. Meanwhile, Hantuchova lost to Jankovic in the second round.
Buy: Nike Slam Day Tank, $60; Slam Day Skort, $60; Cover-up Top, $60. Available in white/electrolime and medium blue/white.
More: Browse the rest of the line after the cut…
If you haven’t already checked out the hilarious posts at Fierce Tennis, you must do so immediately.
I’m wont to give a thumbs up to cool things on the web, but it’s only a month old… Here’s hoping FT sticks around!
In case inquiring minds wanted to know (aside from mine, I mean), here’s a look at the ball(girl)model outfits at this week’s Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.
Yawn.
(image via Getty)
Take a look at the fun font and colors used as the brand identity for the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. They put it on advertising, the website, programs, towels, and even the backdrop in the press room.
What do you think of the design? Tell us!
More: Screenshots galore after the cut…
I have yet to see any matches this week… maybe you can help me out?
Are the ballboys (or ballgirls) handpicked models like in years past? Are they wearing anything outrageous? Post in the comments, please.
Ivan Ljubicic was the first to scalp a seed at this year’s Mutua Madrilena Madrid Masters. The Croatian wild card broke Jo-Wilfried Tsonga three times, with two of those coming in the second set when Ljubicic rallied from 5-2 down. The final score: 6-4, 7-5.
Props to his clothing sponsor, Li Ning, for continually surprising us with novel designs for his on-court kit. This go-’round combines a bright yellow polo with a silver print overlay.
More where that came from: Above are some athletic and casual looks from the current Li Ning line. They were showcased as part of the ATP launch of its Chinese-language site.
Lacoste designer Christophe Lemaire‘s spring offerings through his eponymous collection continues its fusion of east and west. The unisex line includes kurtas, trenches (coats and capes), tunics, pants, and spencer jackets — all tailored comfortably in gabardine, batiste, tweed, and heavy cotton. We’re all about the topographic survey print on this jacket.
Browse: See the entire lookbook (and list of retailers) at christophelemaire.com.
More looks: See a few more photos from the Spring collection after the cut…
Penn goes old-school with a traditional product giveaway, putting a surprise in cans of tennis balls this summer. We’re not talking about kitschy “Cracker Jack”-esque loot here — though something tells me they could have milked Nole Djokovic for something out of left field (a la these videos). Instead, specially marked cans of Penn Championship and Pro Penn+ balls could lead to carabiner watches, tennis racquets (HEAD, of course), or a year’s supply of balls.
Look out for the cans to start appearing on shelves at the beginning of June. We hope you win something!
(image courtesy of Penn)
It must be springtime because shades of aqua are back (like they were in 2007). Read on to see how they’re popping up — both on and off the court…
Isn’t it a little too soon for the 22-year-old Nadal to be writing (or even shopping around) a memoir? Discuss.
(Thanks, Chris)
Rafael Nadal has been Señorito Cranky Pants this week, ripping the organizers of the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Masters new ones for everything from the tour calendar (Rome should happen after Madrid, instead of vice versa), the courts turning blue (he wants the clay to stay orange), and dreaming of becoming the fifth Slam (Madrid is better off staying with the rest of the clay pack, which also includes Monte Carlo and Rome).
Bracketology: It looks like Rafa gets to coast through his half of the draw, with Ferrero, Monaco, Verdasco, or Ferrer (sucks for those guys) facing him in quarters and then possibly Nole in the semis.
Shop: And on a lighter note, we like the Nike NSW Football Shirt that he wore to his presser. It’s also available in white and grey colorways (see here), at NSW retailers and nos.
(photo via Getty Images)
One less salute: Fourth seed Tomas Berdych topped Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in the final of the BMW Open in Munich. Tomas took home a Z4 Roadster along with two business class tickets from South African Airways and €71,700.
Blake falls down the Montanes: Spaniard Albert Montanes won the Portuguese bullfight against American James Blake 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-0. Didn’t help that James was wearing red Fila during the week-long event in Estoril. On the women’s side, Yanina Wickmayer took the title by beating Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-2.
Safina makes it real: In Rome, Dinara Safina proved to the world that her No. 1 ranking is legit by defeating former No. 1 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
He kinda had to: Over in Belgrade, Novak Djokovic‘s inaugural Serbian Open (formerly the ABN AMRO) turned out to be quite a success. Over 70,000 spectators saw him beat lucky loser Lukasz Kubot; the Polish player took out seeds Igor Andreev and Ivo Karlovic en route to the final.
Watermark be damned! It would be criminal NOT to show this picture taken at the Italian Open. Hairy arms + sandalwood fan = best combination ever.
Scoreline: At this semifinal match, Victoria Azarenka lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova 2-6, 4-6. In the final, Kuzie, looking very ladylike in her navy Fila top and with her bangs pinned back, lost in straight sets to fellow Russian Dinara Safina. With this win, Safina takes her first title since reaching the top spot in women’s tennis (on April 20).
FYI, that orange and black ribbon Sveta’s wearing over her left tank strap is the Ribbon of St. George a symbol of Russian military victory in WWII. This holiday is celebrated on May 9.
Buy: Fila Essenza Tank, $35.99, in black/peacoat navy/white; also available as a tank and polo.
(photos via Getty Images)
TSF stopped by LASC a few weeks ago for “On The Ball”, a little shindig to celebrate the arrival of the latest Bjorn Borg undies at this West Hollywood clothing shop.
A pingpong table set up in the storefront caught the eyes of passers-by (models ambivalently rallying in underwear does the trick). Inside, the guests were assaulted with music, booze, and plenty o’clothes, including a rack of Bjorn Borg trunks in bright patterns and prints. The classic solid-colored ones were nowhere to be found, le sad.
Shop: See all the undies at the Bjorn Borg shop.
Photos: Some pics from the party after the cut…
Powder took some time out during this week’s Estoril Open to learn about a world-famous Portuguese cake: the Pasteis de Nata. Sabine Lisicki joined him for the tutorial.
Watch: Check out the video here.
Scoreline: Currently ranked 11th in the world (oh, how the mighty have fallen!), Davydenko entered the combined tournament as the second seed. He was upset by James Blake 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 3-6 in the semis.
And speaking of white powder, Frenchman Richard Gasquet has now confirmed an initial report by L’Equipe that he tested positive for cocaine during a routine drug test at the Sony Ericsson Open in March. He claims innocence and has begun compiling evidence to prove this to the ITF and the World Doping Agency.
We’re hoping he’s innocent and that the case gets dropped; two years of Gasquet-less tennis would just be too much to handle.
(screengrab from ATP)
We here at TSF are suckers for stripes (you should see our closet!), so we’re up to our ears in glee that there are lots of ways to show off some bold patterns this season.
At Nike, the Spring Trend Group plays with bright 80s colors — think pink, lime, seafoam green — on charcoal and white backgrounds. The youthful combination looks perf on Rafa Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro. Good call on placing the stripes just on the front of the shirts, btw. K-Swiss has a similar pattern in black on a white casual tee. A vertical pattern is all over Y-3′s beach bag (you’ll never lose your spot on the beach!), and a nautical version is detail on some japanese lowtop sneakers.
Take a look after the cut…
