That’s why we see a lot of the stars wearing definitive collections of clothes from major sports clothing brands such as Nike, Adidas, and others.
An excellent example of this is the current marketing of the clothing lines of top players in men’s singles such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both players are under Nike when it comes to their tennis gear, and the contrast between the apparel of the two players works to the company’s advantage. Aside from the stark difference in playing style, the two figureheads of the tennis scene also have contrasting tennis fashion sense. Nike works this to its advantage by making the players’ tennis gear fit their own personal styles. Federer is the formal one, with his thigh-length shorts and standard-fit polos. Nadal is the renegade, with his sleeveless tops, capri shorts, and broad bandanas.
While men’s tennis seems to be a stickler for the traditional style, women’s tennis has seen tremendous variations over the years. Perhaps it has to do with the equation of women and fashion?there’s just too much to play with when it comes to women’s clothing.
Who can forget Serena Williams’ shiny black catsuit in the 2002 US Open? There’s also Bethanie Mattek’s body-hugging leopard-print getup in the 2004 US Open. Then again, when it comes to over-the-top outfits, Maria Sharapova’s Swarovski-studded gear bedazzled the US Open in 2007.
Another factor that women’s tennis has going for it is the sex appeal. Yes, folks, there are a ton of people who watch women’s tennis because those long-limbed ladies are simply irresistible in the variety of tennis gear. Some might find the fashion sense of scantily-clad women’s tennis players somehow offensive.
However, the fanciful garb combined with the on-court action really just blends into something that transcends form and skin. The curves of the players are accented by the motion of their skirts, which make watching women’s tennis a visual treat all its own. That’s why many find delight in seeing the various forms of Dinara Safina, Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Sharapova whether it’s on TV, on the Net, or live.
Marketing tennis players and their apparel sometimes overshadows the game itself. For example, one of the most well-known tennis stars is Anna Kournikova. A quick scan of her pro career shows nothing spectacular, although she was one of the best doubles players in the women’s circuit back then. In singles, though, she had 4 finals appearances in 130 tournaments, and never winning one. She never made it to any Grand Slam event final.
Still, her celebrity came mainly from becoming one of the poster girls for tennis apparel. She became popular and appreciated for her modeling shoots, which have been perceived as quite sexy and beautiful. Just how popular did she become? Get this: Her name was one of the most-searched strings of text on Google a while back.
Tennis apparel, in its various forms and incarnations, has tremendous marketing potential. So long as you can find the right type of gear for the right kind of player, it’s a winning combination.
All posts tagged Ana Ivanovic
Of all the female tennis players around the world, hot tennis star Ana Ivanovic immediately won the hearts of millions of people. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Ana is one of the most physically attractive tennis players with a Grand Slam title in her belt. Since she started competing as a professional in 2003, she has already won 10 WTA Tour single titles. In the 2008 French Open, she beat Dinara Safina. This aggressive baseliner is also known for a powerful serve that reached a speed of 201km/h, which is actually the fifth fastest service in the world.
Hot tennis star Ana Ivanovic first picked up a tennis racket at the age of five after watching Monica Seles on television. She became fascinated with a number of tennis clinics and decided to start her career since then. After years of intense training, she immediately showed a lot of potential in the field of tennis. When she was fifteen, she cried four hours in the locker room because she feared that Dan Holzmann, her manager would drop her. Dan did the exact opposite of what Ana expected and remained her manager up to this day.
This exotic brunette was also featured in Sports Illustrated. For this photo shoot, hot tennis star Ana Ivanovic did not hesitate to flaunt her body while lying down in a pool of pink tennis balls. Novak Djokovic, another tennis hottie, also received a lot of publicity lately. At age eight, he immediately became training with a celebrated Yugoslavian coach, Jelena Gencic. He made his way through junior circuits and won his first professional match in Belgrade. After winning three majors in 2011, his undefeated streak immediately pushed him to the top of mens professional game.
Serbian tennis star Novac Djokovic also won his first major match for the Australian Open in 2008. Despite his reputation as a serious tennis player, he is still known for funny impersonations that earned him the nickname D joker. In 2011, he also won 40 straight matches at the Australian Open before he finally lost to Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open. If his last two matches are also included, his total winning streak is equivalent to 42 straight match wins. This is only four points shy of the record that Guillermo Vilas made in 1977.
Ana Ivanovic and Novac Djovic are not only the hottest tennis players that the world has ever known. They are also two of the most talented athletes who have helped tennis deal with its struggling fan base by encouraging more people to learn more about the game.