Tennis stars that changed the game with their looks – Tennis Special
Tennis is a sport where individuality lets players reflect their own style. Tennis players, both male and female, possess charm and charisma, both on and off the playing field. These players with their personality traits have stirred
up the crowd, create ripples of emotions in the spectator’s mind and sent them to a different world of exhilaration, accompanied with their blistering shots and power show with the racquet.
Charisma comes in two forms. First, there is the charisma as in personality. Here, the tennis player’s appearance and personality can be a focusing factor, both for the audience and the media. People such as Roger Federer, Rafael
Nadal, Andre Agassi and Boris Becker come under this category. In the 2001 Wimbledon Championships when Federer defeated and knocked-out Pete Sampras, the world came to know who Federer was. Federer, with his curled hairs, attracted the female tennis enthusiasts,
while his devilish smile and narrow-eyed stares intimidated his opponents standing across the net.
Andre Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam finals from 1992 to 2003, was charismatic in both of his personality phases. In the first phase, in the early 90’s, when Agassi had Goldilocks’ styled hair, he was a heart-throb of millions
and later in his career when he was seen with his bald look, he again became the style statement which would have created an air of jealousy in the player’s locker rooms.
When Agassi was single, he did capture attention, but when he married Steffi Graff, they became one charming tennis couple indeed. Graff, who married Agassi in 2001, was also one of the most influential tennis professionals in
history and a charismatic one indeed. Steffi has been one wild female tennis player. Her personality has been quite aggressive but at the same time, she has been a composed contender, which is why she managed to win thirty-one Grand Slam titles in her seventeen-year
professional career.
One famous tennis legend from Steffi Graff’s era is Pete Sampras, who with his trademark thick eyebrows and short curly hair have created problems for his opponents. His prominent action while serving was the moment when, for a
second or two, he would freeze his arms and then produce a perfect serve that earned him many aces throughout his career. Boris Becker of Germany was a tennis star who gained popularity as a teenager. In 1985, at the age of seventeen, Becker became the youngest
Grand Slam champion in history. His brownish-golden hair distinguished him from others and later in his career, his spiky hair made him stand out.
In the recent years, Spanish powerhouse, Rafael Nadal, with his headband, long hair and sleeveless shirt has made a league of his own in professional tennis. Where Federer has invaded the grass courts at Wimbledon, Nadal on the
other hand, has been a force to reckon with on clay courts. Where Becker, Nadal and Sampras have made it big in the men’s tennis division, the females too have not been way behind. In the late 1990’s, Martina Hingis, with her sweet-sixteen smile should have
certainly made boys miss a heartbeat. Czech-American Martina Navratilova, too, is a legend in her own regard. With 32 Grand Slam final wins, Navratilova, with her glasses and teacher-like appearance was certainly an elegant female tennis player of her era;
her personality is still unbeatable. Anna Kournikova of Russia came and conquered the tennis circuit in 1995 with her model-like looks. She changed the perception of how female tennis stars looked like, because she was more of an actress than a player.
Over the years, people have seen tennis players from all nationalities having their distinctive styles and persona, but only those who have managed to express their style with vigour are the ones who have engraved their names in
history as charismatic tennis stars. They have certainly won everyone’s love.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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