be careful what you wish for

TSF got giddy on the train ride to New Haven upon realizing that hard-hitting fashionistas Nadia Petrova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (yes, their dresses can literally push you around a court) had a second-round meet-up at this year’s Pilot Pen Tennis at Yale.

They didn’t disappoint.

We asked Nadia about her dress, and she thought it cool that she’s the only one wearing Ellesse for competition (no cookie cutters here). She also praised Bethanie’s style (that pink/black/white outfit is from Under Armour, of course), the creativity afforded to the sport by their on-court fashion, and hopes to have a hand in designing her clothes in the future. Will that mean more or less creamsicles? We’re not sure…

Draw: Nadia’s through to the quarters. Draw here.

(photos by TSF)

tattoo watch: bethanie mattek-sands

The inside of Bethanie Mattek-Sands‘ right arm has a colorful floral tattoo. Here she is during yesterday’s second-round match at the Pilot Pen Tennis at Yale against Nadia Petrova (Sands lost 6-3, 6-2.) Nads faces Sam Stosur in what has turned out to be a solid quarterfinal line-up at this year’s tourney: Wozniacki / Pennetta, Dementieva / Bartoli, Kirilenko / Safina, and Nads/Stosur. (Draw: Women’s event)

she’s got gams, not game

Tsvetana Pironkova‘s noise-making run into the 2010 Wimbledon semis didn’t quite convert into success during this summer’s US Open series. At this week’s event in New Haven, the Bulgarian lost to qualifier Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 7-5. This is the second time in a month that Tsvetana’s lost to Anastasia. (Draw: Women’s Singles.)

On the flip side, the girl takes a good picture! (Nick found the link above… can someone help us with the Cyrillic text?)

Looking forward: Because of all the drop-outs at the top of the WTA rank list, Tsvetana’s seeded 32nd for the 2010 U.S. Open. (She’s ranked 34.)

(image source; via @lynnlovestennis)

the “courage” to “believe”

Busy New York bee Melanie Oudin on her 2010 U.S. Open miadidas Barricade 6.0 shoes from adidas: “The reason I chose the word COURAGE is because in order to believe you have to have the courage to do so… Courage to me means playing with no fear and going for it no matter what. You can believe in yourself so much but unless you have the courage to go on the court and put yourself on the line every time you won’t make it. You need courage and belief to make it to the top.”

Kit: Melanie will complement the vibrant colors of this shoe with her Fall Barricade tank and skort, both in “Collegiate Purple” and “Radiant Red”. Can’t wait to see it all in action next week!

Slow start: At this week’s Open warm-up in New Haven — the Pilot Pen Tennis at Yale — Oudin snatched a set from Dominika Cibulkova (a lucky loser, even!) before losing: 2-6, 7-5, 4-6. (Draw: Women’s Singles [pdf])

(image courtesy of adidas)