Daily Racquet

Rod Laver Arena Features Tennis and Fashion

Rod Laver Arena has quickly become the fashion runway for the major sports brands as they launch their   new Spring tennis lines.

World No. 1 Roger Federer made his debut on Center Court wearing the Nike All Court Polo and Nike Woven Shorts. Designed specifically for Roger, the Nike All Court Polo offers the classic style that we are used to seeing Roger wear. Made with sweat-wicking fabric to help keep you dry during tough sets, this lightweight polo enhances your range of motion with stretch fabric, hem vents and drop-tail hem. What really makes this shirt stick out is the laser cut RF logo on the front placket.

The Nike Woven Shorts offer a tailored look but are performance ready. These lightweight shorts feature elasticized sides that provide just the right amount of stretch and mesh inserts on the inner legs for ventilation where you need it most. Other features include an all-over tonal herringbone stripe pattern, mesh-lined side pockets, mesh inserts on the inner legs for ventilation and a back pocket with a button closure.

For shoes, Roger is wearing the Lunarlite Vapor Tour — these shoes give you ultra-lightweight support, resilient cushioning and traction. To support the side-to-side  movement and quick sprints, this shoe features a specially designed frame in the heel. Flex grooves in the sole allow your foot to move in a more natural motion that boosts flexibility and a pivot point in the forefoot gives you additional traction when you're playing. The LunarLite also features extra protection in the toe tip and forefoot for unrivaled durability.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams made her debut wearing the Nike Women's Sunburst Love Game Dress — bringing both fun and feminism to the courts. The bright sunbirst and white Dri-FIT stretch jersey dress boasts a built-in bra for support, contrast cover stitching at the front and back for beautiful line detail, zoned cooling mesh at the front and back for ventilation, and peek-a-boo pleats for movement on the court.

To match her dress, Serena is wearing the new Nike CourtBallistec 2.3 Shoes — these performance shoes are designed to keep your feet both comfortable and cool. Especially during those long, hot matches Down Under. This shoe also features a durable toe tip and extra-durable rubber on the outsole.

These outfits are a great way for you to launch your own fashion show this Spring.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Get A Step On Your Opponent With Nike Air Max Breathe Free II

Get a step on your opponent in these best-selling Nike tennis shoes — this elite level performance  tennis shoe with ultimate breathability and awesome durability.

This innovative shoe features Nike's proven Air Max and Zoom Air cushioning systems. In the heel area, the Air Max unit offers both protection and comfort on tough landings.  Changes in the midfoot construction provide a new and improved breathability, durability and stability. Direct inject Drag-On combined with a highly breathable mesh provide the player with maximum temperature control, exceptional durability in the toe area, lateral stability, and great forefoot flexibility. The forefoot feels low to the ground, while heel fit is slightly more elevated with a well cushioned feel. Durable outsoles and a tough Drag-On toe guard round out this impressive performance shoe. This shoe is available in both men's and women's styles.

There's a reason this shoe is a best-seller — comfort, durability and that extra step on your opponent!

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Get Style and Stability with Nike Air Max Mirabella Womens Tennis Shoes

The all new Air Max Mirabella is refreshingly fashionable, lightweight and loaded with comfort features such as lightweight cushioning, for comfort, a TPU shank for lateral stability, and a full-length XDR outsole in a modified tennis herringbone pattern for extreme durability and traction. The perforations are laid out in an argyle pattern for a feminine style yet help keep the shoe well ventilated during competitive play. All in all, a great shoe for the competitive player looking for style, comfort and stability.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Super Soles: 2008 Adidas Barricade V Shanghai Limited Edition Men's Shoe

Take center court with the new Adidas Barricade V Shanghai Limited Edition shoes — designed specifically to commemorate the upcoming 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China.

The shoe features a rich shiny gold on the lateral side of the upper with accents on the tongue, eyelets, and heel. Also features Chinese characters on the heel and bottom of the shoe.

The Adidas Barricade V draws inspiration from the previous generation models of the legendary Adidas Barricade. Along with its perfect blend of durability, cushioning, and support, Adidas has made it even lighter with a snug, more supportive fit. It's unique claw-forefoot ensures controlled shot making.

Available for pre-order online at Tennis Warehouse.

Roger Federer Closes Out The Year In Style

Roger Federer is closing out the year in style this week at the Madrid Masters — in classic black and white from the Nike Winter collection.

Roger has taken control of the courts to reach the semifinals wearing the the Nike Men's Winter short. These shorts feature a traditional look with a fixed waist with button and hidden tab closure, zipper fly and pressed pleats on front. For comfort, the stretch woven short is made of a herringbone-broken twill with quick dry properties. Shorts also feature side pockets with combination mesh and terry lining, a buttoned back pocket, mesh on inner legs and of course, the embroidered Swoosh logo on lower left leg.

For a perfect match on top, Roger has gone with the classy white and black Nike Men's Winter Master Polo — could there be a play of words here? The shirt features a self fabric collar, two-button placket with contrast fabric inset down center front, contrast trim on sleeve hems, mesh on back for ventilation, tennis court heat transfer on left sleeve.

Roger Federer's shoe of choice, the Vapor are greatly improved with increased upper durability and support in this fifth version. Most impressively, Nike has incorporated improvements into the Air Zoom Vapor V upper without sacrificing the speed like feel and comfortable ride. Built on a contour, speed fit last, the Air Zoom Vapor V wraps the foot for glove-like support. All in all an impressive shoe, not just for Roger but for anyone who's serious his footwork.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Serena Williams: Simple and Sharp In Her NYC Nike Designs

Nike stylists have hit their mark when it comes to designing new apparel for tennis megastar Serena Williams — her new NYC ensemble offers up a simple elegance to her game while taking no shortcuts with the "performance factor."

Watch for Serena to continue to unleash her best game with the classy and form-fitting NYC Court Skort.The fixed waist provides a classic look and features a zippered and hook closure in the back. A pleated overlay gives the woven skirt a feminine touch, while a knit built-in compression short provides coverage and ball storage with pockets on both legs.
 
To complement her form-fitting skort, Serena is wearing the Nike NYC Court Tank. The tank features a mesh panel at neckline, mesh-lined straps, built-in support bra, back mesh panel for ventilation and an embroidered Swoosh design trademark on left chest.

For maximum court coverage for which she is known, Serena will be wearing the racy Air Max Smash — a shoe that provides a combination of comfort, stability and durability. With Max Air in the heel, the Smash offers a slightly more elevated ride with plenty of cushioning. This white, black and metallic zinc colors are a perfect complement to her outfit.

Add a touch of simplicity and form to your game with this high performance outfit.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Roger Federer Smokes His Opponents With Nike US Open Apparel Collection

Nike marketing does it again — this time with Roger Federer's US Open apparel collection.  While the colors may have seemed somewhat low-key and neutral to the eye, they were really a play on words that worked to inspire Roger — comet red (by day) and smoke (by night). And it worked!  Roger made his opponents see red as he smoked them on his way to capturing his fifth US Open title in row. 

During his two-weeks in NY, Roger wore the Dri-Fit Control Short — a more tailored short made in a Dri-Fit woven fabric with a herringbone weave and a Dri-FIT stretch mesh gusset, for increased movement around the court. Details included pressed creases to the front and back, a Nike Tennis snap to the front fly and a welt back pocket. Self-fabric belt loops and a belt designed exclusively for Roger complimented the polo in refined fashion.

On top Roger wore the Nike Sphere React Cool Manhattan Polo. Fabricated in a lightweight Dri-FIT jersey, Roger’s tailored slim-fit style teams up with no-sew construction (seams bonded without stitching) to move with his body, reduce friction, and attack in comfort. The polo featured a perforated back and buttonholes laser-etched to perfection to reduce weight and kept Roger cool from start to finish. Laser etching allows for the addition of subtle details such as tonal graphics on the back and the emblazoned “RF” logo. For the final touch to Roger’s iconic polo, bonded pleats adorn the front replicating the tailored seams of a tuxedo shirt.

Roger's shoes of choice were the Air Zoom Vapor V — this shoe provides low-to-the-ground cushioning, increased energy return and swift acceleration which allowed Roger to remain responsive to quick movements while maintaining a lower, closer relationship to his playing surface. Here's what you didn't know, the Vapor V evolves with Nike DragOn material (a technology that protects and reinforces the shoe) following lines inspired by the classic clean rims of Roger’s Mercedes roadster.

Get set to smoke your opponent's with this complete line of Roger Federer US Open apparel. 

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Serena Williams Scores In Red At US Open

Watch for Serena to unleash her best game tonight in Flushing Meadows in the much-anticipated  quarterfinal match-up against big sister Venus. Her NYC ensemble offers up the best in Serena's personal style and red-carpet persona while taking no shortcuts with the "performance factor." Each material used was chosen for its unmatched performance properties including moisture management, recovery compression and sleek look.

The Court Dress is slim and figure-hugging--fluid at the hem to accentuate Serena’s feminine curves. Permanent pleats adorn the front and back adding three-dimensional movement sure to stun opponents and grab attention with every stride. Fearless and fun, Serena’s Court Dress also features a back “peep hole” for added ventilation and true-to-form fit.

On her feet, Serena's choice of shoe is the Air Max Smash. These new shoes offer a combination of comfort, stability and durability, the Air Max Smash is a solid choice for the competitive player. With Max Air in the heel, the Smash offers a slightly more elevated ride with plenty of cushioning and is built on Nike's relaxed fit last. For added flare, check out Serena’s SW logo on the lateral side of the shoe in the pattern on the mesh.

For more information go to nikestore.com. Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Adidas Creates Ana Ivanovic Barricade V Summer Slam

 When Ana Ivanovic walks onto the courts for her first match at the 2008 US Open, she will be sporting a pair of the new adidas Barricade V Summer Slam shoes designed just for her.

Using Ana herself as inspiration, the shoe features a white on white pearlized "Ana" graphic on upper. The playful design depicts Ana's sophistication and graceful elegance on court! The rubber outsole features metallic silver sparkles.

Not only do the colors of the shoe hook directly with the apparel Ana will wear at the US Open, the Barricade V Summer Slam includes all the performance benefits of the original Barricade V. Along with its perfect blend of durability, cushioning, and support, the Barricade V's are lighter than ever — thirty grams lighter, to be exact — with a snug and supportive fit. Its unique claw-forefoot ensures controlled shot making. This shoe also offers a quick break-in and a more comfortable feel.

These shoes will most certainly add some sparkle to Ivanovic's game as she tries to capture the last Grand Slam of the year.

Available online at adidas.com.

Adidas Legendary Barricades Commemorate Beijing Olympics

Celebrate the Beijing Olympics in style with a pair of these limited edition Adidas Barricade V's commemorating the 2008 Beijing Olympics! The shoes feature an eye-catching white pearlized upper and red graphic insole to differentiate this model from other Barricade V's.

The Adidas Barricade V draws inspiration from the previous generation models of the legendary Adidas Barricade. Along with its perfect blend of durability, cushioning, and support, adidas has made it lighter than ever — thirty grams lighter, to be exact — with a snugger, more supportive fit. It's unique claw-forefoot ensures controlled shot making. This shoe also offers  more flex than the Barricade IV, providing a quicker break-in and a more comfortable feel.

Check out the Barricade V on the feet of Safin, Djokovic and Gonzalez. Three of the hottest players on the men's circuit this summer.

Available online at Amazon.com.