Daily Racquet

Melanie Oudin: Heart, Sole and Lots of Color

Melanie Oudin has been wearing her heart on her sleeve during her run at the 2009 US Open and it has endeared her to fans everywhere. On her feet, she is wearing her own personalized adidas mi Barricade 5 tennis shoes — the bright yellow,  and pink shoes with a purple stripe have the  inscription ‘believe’ on the side of the shoe.

You too, can create a one-of-a-kind design that's yours alone — you can choose your own colors, add in details, then show the world your own personal best in the greatest adidas ever. Yours. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

Each shoe can be customized by fit (even different sizes for each foot) or by using an array of colors, designs and logos that result in thousands of possible combinations. And, those having trouble figuring out where to begin, can look to inspirations from  both Oudin’s design.

Whatever your personal style, the customized design and perfect fit of mi adidas shoes can help you run faster and react quicker.  No guarantees that they'll make you as fast Oudin but you will look your best.

Check it out at miadidas.com.

Sam Querrey and Melanie Oudin Make Open Debut in Personalized mi adidas

When Americans Sam Querrey, currently ranked 26th in the ATP World Tour, and Melanie Oudin, the #3 ranked American female in the world, first step on the court in Flushing Meadows, each will be wearing their own personalized adidas mi Barricade 5 tennis shoes.

Each player brought a unique approach to the design process to create Barricade V’s that reflect their personality, color preferences and style both on and off the court.  Querrey wanted something that would stand out, announcing his arrival among tennis’ top international players. Oudin’s design is more introspective, as the inscription of ‘believe’ on the side of the shoe brings to life her motivation to succeed among the competition.

You too, can create a one-of-a-kind design that's yours alone — you can choose your own colors, add in details, then show the world your own personal best in the greatest adidas ever. Yours. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

Each shoe can be customized by fit (even different sizes for each foot) or by using an array of colors, designs and logos that result in thousands of possible combinations. And, those having trouble figuring out where to begin, can look to inspirations from  both Querrey and Oudin’s designs.

Whatever your personal style, the customized design and perfect fit of mi adidas shoes can help you run faster, react quicker and always look your best.

Check it out at miadidas.com.

Get YOUR Very Own Personalized miBarricade 5 Tennis Shoes

What do you get when you mix the legendary adidas Barricade 5 tennis shoe with your creative one-of-a kind design? You get your own personalized adidas miBarricade 5 tennis shoe.

Create a one-of-a-kind design that's yours alone. Choose your colors, add in details, then show the world your own personal best in the greatest adidas ever. Yours. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

Or, better yet, you can personalize your whole tennis team, whether it be high school, college or recreational league. Simply select your team colors and poof, your whole team will have the same unique, personalized footwear.

Each can be customized by fit (even different sizes for each foot) or by using an array of colors, designs and logos that result in thousands of possible combinations. And, those having trouble figuring out where to begin can look to inspirations from designers and athletes for a starting point. The unique 360 degree zoom and rotate capability will help the at-home designer explore all angles and options for his or her custom design.

Whatever your personal style, the customized design and perfect fit of mi adidas shoes can help you run faster, react quicker and always look your best.

Check it out at miadidas.com.

Wilson Tour Spin Tennis Shoes Offer Speed and Comfort

Looking for maximum speed and comfort on the tennis courts? The Wilson Tour Spin Tennis Shoes are the perfect fit.

Take one look at this shoe and you"ll notice how well ventilated they are. The foot-conforming ballistic mesh upper keeps feet cool — the NanoWik Moisture Management Linings keep sweat and moisture away from the feet resulting in a very breathable and lightweight shoe.

The heel features  Wilson's DST Foam cushioning and forefoot has a new TPU Stable Chassis and Innerloc support zones help provide the much needed stability to keep your speed on the courts. The high abrasion clear toe wrap aids in durability. Overall, these shoes offer a comfortable ride, excellent ventilation and require no break-in.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Nike LunarLite Speed Tennis Shoes Will Lighten Your Load

NIke is introducing a brand new technology that has never been used in tennis footwear — LunarLite foam. LunarLite foam is 30 percent lighter than standard Phylon and provides ultra-lightweight cushioning.

How does this help your game? The LunarLite cushioning provides a low-to-the-ground feel that translates into speed on the court. For support, the thin nylon fibers of Flywire in the upper of the shoe hold your feet in place. Weight is reduced because these nylon supports are used only where they're needed, helping to reduce painful pressure points on your feet. Nike uses a herringbone tread pattern on its XDR outsole for good traction on a variety of court surfaces. For added durability, Nike offers a new generation of DragOn — DragOnX.

Oh, and did we mention the colors that are available? White with Vivid Pink, Neo Turquoise and Volt; Black and Pink; White with Bright Coral Orange and Metaliic Silver and White.

No matter which way you move, Nike LunarLites will lighten and brighten your feet on the tennis court.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Novak Djokovic Genius Goes Blue In Miami

Novak Djokovic is sporting a new blue version of his first signature Adidas CC Genius shoe — a perfect match for his aggressive all court game.

The shoes feature a new SPEEDCUT technology used in lateral strips on the upper to give added forefoot support. The sole provides excellent grip on hard courts but also enough give and ankle support to facilitate Novak’s breathtaking slides. Cushioning is key to making this a truly comfortable shoe with ClimaCool aeration technology, which allows Novak’s feet to remain at an optimum performance temperature despite the sometimes-sweltering heat in Miami — aka Miami Heat.

A Falcon emblem on the lateral side of the heel emphasizes Novak's killer on-court instinct. Watch out for this court genius in blue as he tries to knockout his prey on his way to the finals.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

LACOSTE To Celebrate 75 Years of the "Crocodile" Myth

For over 75 years the LACOSTE brand has been associated with Crocodiles. It began in 1925, when Rene Lacoste, the founder of the brand, made a bet with Pierre Gillou, the French Davis Team Captain, the prize being a crocodile skin suitcase that Rene had spotted in the shops of Boston. To win the bet Rene Lacoste had to win his next Davis Cup match against the Australian player Anderson, during the days that followed the story of the bet was recounted to George Carens a local journalist. After the match, which Lacoste did not win, Carens said, “The young Lacoste has not won his Crocodile skin suitcase but he fought like a real crocodile.”  The nickname stuck and Rene Lacoste adopted the crocodile as his emblem and soon had a crocodile embroidered onto the outside pocket of his jacket and the legendary brand logo was born.

To commemorate this association LACOSTE is releasing a collection of 9 shoes that celebrate the legend of Rene Lacoste and the Mythologies surrounding crocodiles around the world. The special collection begins with the release of their Tiller Egypt, Revan NYC, and Tennis 91 West Africa models. The shoes will be released over three months starting in April and will only be available from an exclusive selection of stores globally.

Each shoe is packaged in a special edition box and contains a booklet and postcard pack which outlines the stories behind the myth and the legend of Lacoste.

The release is already creating excitement amongst sneaker lovers and fanatics worldwide!

In addition to the growing publicity, Lacoste will be launching a website for the collection on March 30th – the details on this are currently top secret, but it is sure to entertain.

Keep your eyes peeled!

Put Some Color In Your Soles

What do you get when you mix a little color with a little rocket science? You get the Nike Air Max Courtballistec 1.3 Men's Tennis Shoes – offering new technology with LunarLite and DragOn X, Nike has produced an extremely durable shoe offering plenty of comfort.

To be worn by Rafael Nadal, the Court Ballistec features Lunarlite technology in the forefoot for a softer and more flexible ride. Max Air unit in the heel for superior cushioning. New DragOn X upper is an evolutionary material that is 30% more durable than the previous-generation DragOn.

A new look, with new technology mixed with a colorful sole, places this shoe one step ahead of the competition.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Adidas CC Genius Falcon Tennis Shoes Spotlight Novak Djokovic's "Killer Instinct"

 When Novak Djokovic steps on the courts in Melbourne for the 2009 Australian Open, the defending champion will be wearing his new signature Adidas CC Genius ‘Falcon’ tennis shoes — his first signature shoe is the perfect match for his aggressive all court game.

The shoes feature a new SPEEDCUT® technology used in lateral strips on the upper to give added forefoot support. The sole provides excellent grip on hard courts but also enough give and ankle support to facilitate Novak’s breathtaking slides. Cushioning is key to making this a truly comfortable shoe with ClimaCool aeration technology, which allows Novak’s feet to remain at an optimum performance temperature despite the sometimes-sweltering heat in Melbourne.

A Falcon emblem on the lateral side of the heel emphasizes Novak's killer on-court instinct. Watch out for the defending champion as he tries to knockout his prey on his way to a second consecutive title Down Under.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.