Daily Racquet

Samantha Stosur Goes "Le Crocodile" At US Open

When Australian Sam Stosur steps on Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight to face Kim Clijsters for a spot in the women's singles semifinals, she will be trying to add to the "Le Crocodile" Legend.

History has it that the signature crocodile logo that adorns the famous Lacoste clothing line started when the press nicknamed French tennis player Rene' LaCoste "the Alligator" after a bet he made over a suitcase that was made from alligator skin. The nickname stuck since it conveyed the tenacity he displayed on the tennis court, never letting go his prey. In NY, Stosur has shown some of that same tenacity.

At the Open, she is wearing the sporty LaCoste Contrast Tipped Dress. It features a V-neck zip placket neck with contrasting trim on neckline as well as on arm holes. The drop waist with box pleats and contrasting trimmed pockets complete the look. And of course, the embroidered Croc logo is on the left chest.

Stosur will complement her LaCoste outfit with her ever present Oakley shades — she prefers the Enduring model which are super lightweight frames designed exclusively for women to provide an optimized fit. They have interchangeable lens designs that let athletes adapt instantly to the environment; and the lens contours extend peripheral vision with unrivaled clarity while helping protect the wearer’s eyes from harmful UV.

With her eyes on her prey,  you can bet Stosur will be counting on two things to help her — her big power game and the  "Le Crocodile" Legend.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Get Your US Open Modo Sunglasses!

For the first time ever, you can get a pair of US Open Performance sunglasses manufactured by MODO!  These new US Open sunglasses come with a protective US Open hard shell case and microfiber cleaning cloth printed with the US Open logo.

These sunglasses are perfect for both on and off the court. The frame is made of 100% Grilamid TR-90 impact resistant plastic with an open lens mounting system that provides optimal peripheral vision. The High Chromatic lens intensifies natural color contrasts improving reaction time and definition of the tennis ball while the anti-reflecting coating reduces reflections so watching those matches in the bright sun will be much easier on the eyes.

Here's what really makes these sunglasses special - the US Open Ball and Flame log are screen-printed on the the outside the end of the temple tip while the USTA logo is printed on the inside of the sunglass temple — making these shades an Official US Open Product.

We suggest you get your MODOs — we guarantee, these will be flying off the shelves come US Open time.

Available online at the US Open Shop.

Stosur In Shades of Roland Garros

Australian Sam Stosur collected one of the biggest wins of her career, overpowering the claycourt queen Justine Henin in stunning fashion at the French Open, 2-6 6-1 6-4.

One of the few professional tennis players to sport shades during their tennis matches — the 7th-ranked WTA pro tennis player is an ambassador for the Oakley Perform Beautifully campaign.

“On the court, there’s the sun, the glare and the heat, and anything else you can think of. If you can minimize the things that make it difficult to see, you’re going to be in a lot better position to play well. I can’t imagine not playing without my Oakley’s. Sometimes you go out there and don’t have them, and you realize how much they do help you,” Stosur said.

Stosur’s current favorite frames are Oakley's Enduring and Commit SQ. Both styles feature super lightweight frames designed exclusively for women to provide an optimized fit; both have interchangeable lens designs that let athletes adapt instantly to the environment; and both feature Oakley’s permanent Hydrophobic lens coating eliminates water sheens and maintains a smudge-resistant barrier. The lens contours extend peripheral vision with unrivaled clarity while helping protect the wearer’s eyes from harmful UV.

With her eyes on the finals, next up for Stosur is Serena Williams where you can bet she'll be counting on two things to help her — her big power game and her Oakley's.

Available online at Amazon.com.

Shades of Summer

The new Aruba DRIVR P Sport shades offer up some stylish performance for the tennis court.

The Aruba DRIVR Sport sunglasses are enhanced with double injected Arubaflex TR90 frames with temple pieces that feature silicone and nylon fused together for a seamless bond. The lenses feature 2.0 mm polycarbonate which provides exceptional strength and clarity, while providing 100% protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. The anti-reflective coating on the back of the lens prevents bounce back glare and reduces eye fatigue — providing outstanding visual clarity on the court.

These shades are guaranteed to be popular both on and off the courts.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Maui Jim Kapalua Offers Up Ultra-Light Sport Shades

The Maui Jim Kapalua is the pinnacle of Maui Jim's ultra-light sport designs, these hingeless wrap-around sunglasses eliminate glare and keep the sun out with the Maui Jim PolarizedPlus2® technology. Fashioned from a strong, flexible beta-titanium alloy and combined with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, the Kapaluas weigh a mere eleven grams. These ultralight titanium alloy frames are engineered for comfort and durability with flexible temples to hug face for relaxed fit

Maui Jim's exclusive CLEARSHELL coating resists scratches and scuffs, and like all Jims, PolarizedPlus Technology eliminates glare and UV rays. A polarized lens' primary function is to reduce glare that is, light reflected from a flat surface which greatly diminishes color and contrast. Like body of water or a car windshield, tennis courts produce polarized light —polarized lenses are perfect for deflecting this light, giving you a cleaner and safer look at the ball with decreased eye-strain.

These ultralight titanium alloy frames are engineered for comfort and durability with flexible temples to hug face for relaxed fit. Perfect for the tennis courts — lightweight, tough, and very stylish!

For more information go to mauijim.com. Available online at Amazon.com.