Gearing up for the upcoming U.S. Open, The Times featured a short piece on the sometimes eccentric fashion choices displayed by tennis players over the years. My two favorites are pictured here: Bill Tilden (1930) and Suzanne Lenglen (1919).
I admire these athletes' ability to perform in unbreathable and excessive (though stylish) clothing. And we haven't exactly come a long way from this: Anne White's Lycra bodysuit (1985) fits the same description, while Rafa Nadal's recently retired clamdiggers always seemed distractingly snug.
Tennis players contend with more than their opponents; they are exposed to the elements (heat, wind, sun) and react to them (through sweat, blisters, tears), while warding off potential disasters (wardrobe malfunctions, injury, a cursed serve) that may interrupt their game.
Still, utility isn't the primary function of most tennis players' wardrobes. Personal style tends to be the goal, displayed through ornamentation, embellishment, and an eye for fashion. We've basically seen a little bit of everything on the court: headbands of all shapes and sizes, jewelry that dangles and catches the sun's glare, blindingly bright colors, and tennis dresses that are fit for a night on the town.
While this sport requires a great degree of athleticism, physical and mental strength and endurance, and an unflinching ability to focus, it's refreshing to know that, with the exception of the all-white attire required of Wimbledon participants, tennis players' apparel is, as we've seen, relatively unrestricted. Many players display the attitude that what they wear is clothing, not a uniform, and individuality is essential. This doesn't take anything away from the game; it gives spectators something more to wow about.
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