Women’s Tennis Association Apparel for the 2011 Australian Open Part I: Sneak Preview for Maria Sharapova
With the new season coming up, every player currently on tour is looking forward to a change in wardrobe from their respective sponsors. This feature article provides a preview of Nike’s new outfits for players Maria Sharapova, Na Li and Serena Williams
(her absence from the court does not change her status as a player sponsored by Nike).
Maria Sharapova
Russian tennis pro Maria Sharapova will be arriving at the Grand Slam in Melbourne with more support than she usually has; the former World Number 1 is bringing along Los Angeles Lakers guard, Sasha Vujacic, who recently proposed to the player. However,
her pricey diamond ring is not the only thing notable which the pro will be wearing; this year, Nike has set up a streamlined outfit for Sharapova, meant to show off her silhouette while being both practical and chic.
The dress, titled “Oz Open Ace Dress” is made of completely lightweight Dri-FIT material. It will enable her to move freely across the surface of the court, and in addition to this it will also absorb sweat and moisture from the player’s skin. The colour
scheme is a contrast of peach and gray. The two colours will converge into each other in a V-neck front, and the design also comes with an in-built bra to make the dress as comfortable and easy to wear as possible. There is also an adjustable double-loop system
for the shoulder straps of the dress, as well as the bra. The loops are able to loop back to front, and then back again thanks to the adjustability of the garment.
Maria Sharapova played a major role in the design and features of the dress; the 23-year-old player collaborated with Nike at every stage of the dress’s making in order to ensure optimum results. She is also responsible for one of the most eye catching parts
of the dress, the ‘boomerang’ back. Janice Lucena, who is the creative director at Nike Tennis, says, “We’re calling it a boomerang – a little bit of a nod to Australia. The open racer back has a bit more breathability.”
Last year in 2009, Maria Sharapova showed off her skills in a jungle-green dress, streak with green and gold. These are Australia’s national colours, and the shout out to the country in which the event was held did not go unnoticed. She was knocked out by
Maria Kirilenko (who was, at one time, her partner in doubles matches) in the first round of the 2009 Australian Open. This was the first Grand Slam in which Sharapova was made to exit so early, after her 2003 French Open loss. The player was 16 at that time.
The 2008 Australian Open champion will be trying to make her mark on this tournament, and she will be wearing a sleeker, more fitting dress as she attempts to progress in the event Down Under. The player’s warm-up jacket is also included in the outfit; it
consists of a V shaped scoop neckline, with perforated mesh panels and a peach coloured zipper.
Apart from this, Sharapova’s stylish effect on the outfits worn at the Australian Open will be seen even when she is not playing tennis. Five Nike-sponsored players will be given the “Maria Post Oz Open Ace Tank” and the “Maria Post Oz Open Ace Skirt” during
the tournament. These five players, known to Nike insiders as Team Maria, are American tennis pro Madison Keys, Anastasia Pivovarova from Russia, German pro Julia Georges, Kai-Chen Chang from Chinese Taipei and Czech player Iveta Benesova.
The next feature of this series details the stylistic aspirations of Serena Williams and Na Li.
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