oh, shahar!

It’s been a while since we’ve put up a fashion mishit — nay, a fashion shank — on TSF, but this one caught our eye. Too bad, because we were in the middle of writing a post praising Shahar Peer‘s current purple Reebok dress, and this had to pop up: a pic from last month’s BNP Paribas Open Players’ Party. That sock tan! And are those loafers?

TSF Archives: Previous mishits on and off the court — including Jankovic‘s pink bow, Spadea‘s leopard print backpack, and a lot of Mattek.

On the tour: Shahar’s done decently this year, ranked just outside the top 10 and with two quarterfinal appearances (Dubai, Indian Wells). She lost in her opening round match at this week’s Sony Ericsson Open to Anabel Medina Garrigues. As you may know, AMG gave Sharapova trouble in Masha’s opening match at Indian Wells.

(image via Getty Images)

what not to wear: jennifer love hewitt edition

Jennifer Love Hewitt needs to have one of her ghosts whisper to her that espadrilles and DecoTurf should never mix. Ever.

Oh ya, and she played in a bikini, too, in case you care about that stuff.

(src)

chris’ note to james blake

Dear James Blake,

Why dont you try complaining about the ATP World Tour calendar when you’re winning and having to play a lot more (instead of when you’re losing)? It shouldn’t matter now that you have two weeks off! When was the last time you sucked at your job and were given two weeks paid vacay? Maybe you could use the time off editing all the spelling errors in your book!

xo,

C

Scoreline: The Fila-clad 17th-seed lost to Andreas Seppi 5-7, 4-6, 6-7 (5) in the first round of Wimbledon singles, 2009.

Buy: Fila Essenza Crew Neck Top, $45, fila.com. (C’mon, James — you looked so crisp and clean in that Nike polo you wore to Wimbledon last year. I’m sure you can drum up the same look with Fila!)

can you spare a cup of coffee?

Someone give Nadia Petrova‘s seamstress some caffeine; she needs to stop falling asleep while working!

This Ellesse dress is churned out by the Japanese arm of this brand. The American licensee hoped for a big re-entry into the U.S. market to line up with the brand’s 50th anniversary this year. Unfortunately, the current economic climate has forced them to delay. We’ll sit tight!

Scoreline: The tenth seed made quick work of Anastasiya Yakimova in her opener at this year’s Wimbledon. She next faces Shahar Peer, who beat Maria Elena Camerin after a second-set tiebreak. (We expect Petrova to bow out in the third round, which is when she’ll face Maria Sharapova…)

(image via Getty Images)

mishit: ivo minar

For posterity’s sake: Ivo Minar wore this tart, tartan combo from TTK at this year’s French Open. He was Kudryavtseva‘d by sixth seed Andy Roddick in the second round.

Perhaps Andy was doing Minar a favor; the American knows a thing or two about crazy outfits on the court.

Full monty: See a wider shot of Ivo’s clothes

the ultimate u.s. open mishit

Attack of the killer bluetooth(ish) headsets: Kudos to Amex for enhancing the U.S. Open experience by providing mini-TVs (which you had to return) and radios (for keeps) to their cardholders; because unless you had a text-proficient posse roaming the grounds, it was hard to know when juicy matches were playing out, even just a few courts away. The radio also streamed commentary from CBS’ and USA’s coverage of the tournament.

The one downside: the leash on those radios. Not even the beautiful Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend could save it from looking totally ridiculous. Loose, wrinkled strips of white fabric dangled from ears everywhere I turned. Function over fashion, perhaps, but rip the strap of that radio as soon as humanly possible. Gnaw at it if you have to.

(photo from the Federer/Murray final by Getty Images)

some of these things are not like the others

India’s Olympic contingent couldn’t get it together for their opening march into the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing today.

From the Press Trust of India:

“With ace shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore carrying the tri-colour, the contingent looked good from a distance but as they came closer things looked hardly impressive.

The male members of the team were dressed in off-white sherwanis but the tennis duo of Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao were attired in black trousers and practice jackets. Not only did the two not follow the dress code, the contrast was even more jarring to the eyes when they walked with Delhi paddler Neha Aggarwal who chose a greenish saree for the occasion.

Most of the Indian competitors also did not march smartly, Rathore, tennis ace Leander Paes and shooter Gagan Narang being the exceptions.

Though, the generous crowd at the Bird’s Nest stadium roared to greet the Indians, it was a shoddy fashion statement by the team.”

(src; photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

mishit: james blake

Instead of patting James Blake on the back for being an American who makes it past the first round of the French Open — he beat Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) — take that hand and just smack him upside the head. This Nike Summer Global Power Crew is in the running for most boring outfit of the fortnight!

Buy: Summer Global Power Crew, $55, available in Black/Pacific Blue and White/Olive Khaki.

(photos by Getty Images)

Mishit: Janko’s younger brother

The penchant for funky eyewear runs in the Tipsarevic family, clearly, and at times this energy turns evil. Like in the case of Veljko — Janko’s younger brother — who came to the Sony Ericsson Open straight from his audition for Starlight Express.

jelena, don’t fall to the dark side!

Okay. I must admit that I had a change of heart about Jelena Jankovic‘s Bjork-at-the-Oscars dress once I found out the context; basically, it’s a gown crafted by Kelly Kealy Mayton entirely out of cell phone parts (brilliant!) and she was to wear it accompanied by Dancing with the Stars alum Helio Castroneves.

But I’m sticking to my guns about her shopping with Bethanie Mattek at bebe. Janks, who knows what kind of fashion tips you’ll pick up even by just breathing the same air as her? Stay away!

Folks, you might have already seen the American’s silver sequined singles dress, but not many of you got a chance to see this pink prosty-worthy outfit:

She wore this playing doubles with Sania Mirza at Indian Wells. While Sania was busy covering most of her torso in that adidas Edge Cap Sleeve top, Bethanie was busy busting out. This was certainly one of the highlights of my trip to the desert.

From the back: See the dress from the back

mishit: are you trying to forget about jelena jankovic’s dress?

Jelena Jankovic‘s dress from the kick-off party has been seared into our minds. And just when we were getting ready to forget about it, we ran across a photo of the dress… taken from the back.

Enjoy!

(photo by SEWTA)

meanwhile, a showgirl’s costume went missing…

Jelena Jankovic at the Sony Ericsson Open Kick-off party on Wednesday.

(photo by Getty Images)

vintage bethanie mattek

Monogrammed visor? Check. Random red wristband? Check.

Sequins on her Bebe Sport top and skirt? Check.

Falling in the first round (to Alla Kudryavtseva 2-6, 1-6 in the first round of the Pacific Life Open)? Check.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll wear at the Sony Ericsson Open, Bethanie Mattek!

(photos by Getty Images)

mishit: jelena jankovic’s headband

One step forward and two steps back for Jelena Jankovic. We love her pink and white Reebok dresses, but…

…I’m sorry. No. That bow just isn’t right.

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when I’m done freeing kolya…

Okay, that’s it. When I’m done freeing Nikolay Davydenko (currently in Portland for the DC final) from his match-fixing mess, I will turn my efforts to banning leopard print from tennis. Because for every foxy Jelena Jankovic ensemble that’s on display, there are disasters from Bethanie Mattek, a racquet bag from Vince Spadea, and this dress (above) from Lindsay Davenport.

The Californian (posing with event chair Sean McManus on the left and Billie Jean King on the right) was awarded Sportswoman of the Year at the March of Dimes’ 24th Annual Luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria last night. Hmmm, seeing that she’s only played in three tournaments this year, I wonder how far down Linds was on their ask list?

A healthier-looking Monica Seles presented an award to Ted Forstmann of IMG, while USTA head Arlen Kantarian got this year’s Sports Leader Award. Congrats to all.

(photos by WireImage via DTL)

mishit: sampras and federer doll up for their exos

Here’s Pistol Pete and Darth Federer before squaring off at the Super Match VI in Seoul. I love it when a man isn’t afraid to wear fuschia!

Roger, having survived a scare at the TMC Shanghai, is now relaxed and looking forward to breaking more records (and perhaps nabbing gold at the Beijing Olympics) in 2008.

Scoreline: Federer was understandably nervous going up against his idol — and Pete put up a fight — but Roger got over it and won 6-4, 6-3. (A write-up of the match appears here.)

On the boob tube: Tennis Channel (I miss you, “The“!!) will air the Seoul exo on time delay at 7pm ET tonight. The broadcast will also appear on Tennis Channel’s website on Dec. 5.

The parade continues: The two will also play in Kuala Lumpur and at The Venetian in Macao.

For as much as these two were getting paid, couldn’t they have worn more appropriate shoes? Perhaps, like Venus Williams and Maria Kirilenko, all they needed to help the ensemble are elaborate headdresses.

(photo by Getty Images)

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mishit: the ballgirls in madrid

With the WTA and ATP tour calendars jam-packed from January through December, it is sometimes hard for tournaments to make their mark (which is why I advocate a better array of trophies, at the least).

So TSF gives props to officials in Madrid for finding their own awesome schtick: train Boss models (read: top-notch, beautiful, fashion professionals) to work as ballfolk for a premier tour stop. This happened at last year’s Tennis Masters Series tourney and also at last year’s WTA Tour Championships. (There was even a big to-do about Maria Sharapova helping out with the selection process.)

But someting happened between planning and execution this year because the girls showed up frumping around in pink dresses. And while black shoes might have worked at a less athletic event (worn correctly, pink bubble dress with black booties can work), they should NEVER be worn with light colors. The baby blue polo/skirt combo is alright.

And what is going on with the beddazled tattoo? Am I watching The Real Housewives of Orange County?

So, to the organizers of the Mutua Madrilena Masters: go back to the drawing boards for next year’s event. Perhaps take inspiration from the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. Need we remind you how they dressed their raccattapalle? Yep, that’s how it’s done.

What do you think of the ballgirls? Tell us!

(photos by Getty Images)

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fashion hit: spadea sparkles

As much as we rag on Vince Spadea for his prosti-totes, bedazzled trucker hats, or wearing basketball shorts on the court, we have to give credit where it’s due.

See how well this eccentric American cleans up? It’s like an episode of Extreme Makeover all up in hurrrr. Here he is playing a first round match at the Thailand Open (losing to Tommy Haas 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 in the first round). Put a non-obnoxious shirt on him (from his own line, of course) and he looks great. That hair is another story…

But we should enjoy this while it lasts. Back in May, Bethanie Mattek had the crazy notion that she’d tone down her on-court fashion style. It got her a title, but it didn’t last long. She was back to her old ways by the 2007 U.S. Open.

Buy?: You can check out some of Vince’s goods at his Pro Shop.

DC mishit: stepanek takes patriotism too far

World Group Play-offs: Czech Republic vs. Switzerland in Prague

Poor Radek Stepanek. Why is no one from the Czech Davis Cup team telling him that he should dress in the theme of the country’s flag, but not as the country’s flag itself?

(In his defense, Stepanek gets brownie points for trying. Y’all know how much TSF loves it when players wear their country’s colors.)

FYI: Click here if you don’t know what the Czech flag looks like.

Scoreline: Stepanek fell to his much better dressed Swiss opponent, Roger Federer, in four sets: 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5). Berdych won his rubber against Wawrinka, which puts the tie at 1-1 after the first day of play.

(photos via DC gallery and Getty Images)

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spotted: vince spadea’s backpack

At this year’s RCA Championships in Indianapolis, American (and fashion, ahem, trailblazer) Vince Spadea was sporting this lovely leopard-print tennis bag.

Do he and Bethanie Mattek shop at the same hooker palace or what?

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