Tennis News

Already during the tournaments opening the grass-court season we had an opportunity to see some nice new designs ready for the upcoming Wimbledon, but before tennis fashion completely switches to pure whites let’s have a look at the colorful clothes that graced the WTA courts in the period leading to the most traditional Grand Slam.

Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog gives us an overview of the best outfits we’ve had this June.

We had missed Belinda Bencic on tennis courts since Charleston, with the Swiss nurturing a back injury, but the 19-year-old made a stylish comeback this month at the Ricoh Open, wearing this ice grey and orange color-block dress, another refreshingly youthful and sporty Yonex design. The thick orange stripe below chest provides a figure-slimming effect and Yonex made sure to match it with Belinda’s visor, wristbands and company logo.

Besides nice subtle colors, the dress stands out with its wide supportive criss-crossed tank straps. Moreover, a coordinating ball short is included in the design.

Czech Barbora Strycova progressed all the way to the Aegon Classic Birmingham final in singles and to the champion’s trophy in doubles, feeling comfortable in her Sergio Tacchini Phoenix Dress. A dotted pattern adorns the chest and racerback area, matching a solid red side panel at right hip.

Agnieszka Radwanska brought a lot of color to the grey Eastbourne weather with the flowers of the Lotto Twice Dress. What makes this piece of clothing special is that it’s actually reversible, so when you don’t feel like wearing an eye-catching print, you can easily opt for the solid blue marine side. Other features of the dress include moisture management, spaghetti straps and ruffled hem.

For her grasscourt campaign in Birmingham, where she had played the finals back in 2008, Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer opted for the Lotto Moonride Tank from the company’s running range. This is not the first time that Lotto-sponsored athletes are putting aside their tennis clothes — the floral fitness and training Ursula line worn by Carla Suarez Navarro made my February’s fashion favorites.

Wickmayer cheered up the rainy British environment with the colorful tank top dominated by purple tones. Strategically-placed side color-blocks nicely accentuate the waist, while back keyhole cutout allows a sports bra to stylishly peek through. Being a running tank, the item also features a reflective bar down the back that provides visibility in low-light conditions.

Timea Bacsinszky, Daria Gavrilova and Johanna Konta have been sporting the pool blue Asics Club Dress this June, whose mesh panels and moisture-wicking fabric are keeping players cool and comfortable, while built-in sprinter tights ensure the necessary support. Just like most tennis apparel companies, Asics opted for a racerback design, providing players with ultimate mobility that allows them to hit the ball harder and faster.

– Photos courtesy of Getty Images and Jimmie48 Photography 

LONDON, Great Britain – Not bad for your Grand Slam debut. At 24-years-old, No.225 Julia Boserup qualified for her first major at Wimbledon and is into the third round after beating Tatjana Maria and advancing after Belinda Bencic retired in the second round. It’s been a heady week and a half for the American, who has already had to change and extend her accommodations multiple times as she prolongs her unexpected stay in London.

And she’s doing it all while trying to balance the best week of her career – and an Excel spreadsheet or two.

“I go to Penn State Online and I graduate in December,” Boserup said. “I’m studying psychology with a minor in finance. I have homework due in two days.

“I’m taking an accounting class and I have spreadsheets due on Sunday. I have a day off tomorrow. I already told my coach that I’m going to be sitting down and working on school. Me and Excel.”

The California native shares dual citizenship with Denmark – much to the delight of Danish reporters at Wimbledon who are still smarting from Caroline Wozniacki’s early exit. Her parents are Danish and she has family in Copenhagen, which operates as a convenient training base for her when she’s in Europe.

“My dad emigrated to the US when he was eight years old because his dad wanted the American dream, so he moved to the US,” Boserup said. “My mom was on vacation in California when she was 25 and she met my dad and they got married and she moved to California.

“But my older sister went to business school and met the only Danish guy there and married him and moved there. We’re all like, ‘Wrong direction!'”

Boserup started playing tennis when she was six years old and her first coach was the legendary Robert Lansdorp, who also taught the likes of Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova how to hit their big, powerful shots. You see the same style of game from Boserup, who says grass is her favorite surface. At 13 years old she moved to Florida to work with the USTA and moved back to California when she turned 18. A year after winning the Orange Bowl in 2008 – she beat Christina McHale in the final – she opted to turn pro.

But injuries derailed her development. In 2012 she suffered stress fractures in both her feet and nursed a back injury on and off for two years. She has never been ranked higher than No.174. So why did it take so long for her to make the main draw of a Slam?

“It’s a good question and it’s a question I ask myself sometimes,” she said. “I think I’ve put a lot of work into it and sometimes you just have to be patient. I was injured a lot and it’s been a lot of stops and starts. In the big moments it has served me well. Going through those challenges has helped me.”

So could this be the spark that gets her on a path towards the Top 100? This is where Boserup’s maturity is most evident.

“It’s great that I’m in the third round of a Grand Slam, but for me what I’m most excited about is developing my tennis,” she said. “I’ve worked with my coach for three-four months now and everyday we try and get better at little things. That’s really made me get more excited to play. After this I’m still going to play a $50k. One week doesn’t change everything.”

Boserup plays Elena Vesnina in the third round on Saturday.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – USANA Health Sciences and the WTA tour have kicked off the fourth annual Aces for Humanity campaign in support of the USANA True Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide immediate and long-term assistance to suffering populations worldwide. USANA is a global nutritional company and has been a longstanding partner of the WTA since 2006.

Beginning with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California this week, every ace served at a Premier-level WTA event will translate into a donation for the Foundation. For every ace served by the four USANA Brand Ambassadors (Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Monica Puig and Zheng Saisai), the WTA will contribute $20 toward the campaign, while every ace served by any other WTA player will translate into a $5 donation.

Collectively, 493 aces were recorded by USANA Brand Ambassadors during the 2016 campaign, and through this program and other charitable efforts, the WTA has contributed over $140,000 to the USANA True Health Foundation since 2011.

“We are thankful to be partnering with the WTA and our Brand Ambassadors for another year of Aces for Humanity,” said Brian Paul, the Foundation’s Executive Director of Communications.

“One hundred percent of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly toward charitable purposes, and the money raised through this campaign has allowed us to aid thousands of lives each year. We look forward to continuing our efforts alongside the WTA and doing our part to make the world a happier and healthier place.”

In 2016, money raised through several fundraising projects, including Aces for Humanity, allowed the Foundation to do the following:
• Provide over 6.2 million meals through its partnership with the Children’s Hunger Fund.
• Supply over $180,000 to support health education programs, food and home construction.
• Give $738,722 in Usanimals children’s multivitamins to orphanages, clinics and mercy networks throughout the world.
• Donate $180,234 in additional relief to New Zealand, Philippines, Hong Kong, France, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mexico.

“I’m proud to be a USANA Brand Ambassador not only because I believe in the products but because USANA is committed to making a difference in the lives of those suffering and in need,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig. “USANA is all about health and wellness, and through the USANA True Health Foundation, it’s for all people. I’m honored to help raise awareness for this worthwhile cause.”

This year the program will also involve regular social giveaways, including autographed tennis balls and USANA products. For official rules, head to wtatennis.com.

“The WTA is proud to continue its support of the remarkable efforts of the USANA True Health Foundation,” said Steve Simon, WTA CEO and Chairman. “Through our longstanding partnership with USANA and the Aces for Humanity campaign, we are able to provide meaningful assistance to those in need, which is something we greatly value.”

#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway

It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
First up is the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Last year there was a total of 489 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit this year.

How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Indian Wells deadline is Thursday, March 9 at 11:59pm ET.
• The winner will be announced Monday, March 20.

Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.

For full rules on how to enter, click here.