Style Scoop: The Best and Worst Dressed at Roland Garros 2010

Each and every Grand Slam, not only do we get to see thrilling competition at the best venues, but we also see all the top brands showcasing their new designs. Some turn out to be major hits, and some completely miss the mark. Below are the belles of the ball and the faux pas.

Best Dressed: Venus Williams

Not only did Venus Williams miss some of the chicest trends, like lace and corsets, into her 2010 Roland Garros dress, but her EleVen frock also had an edge that isn't normally seen in tennis fashion. And yes, there was some controversy surrounding her skin-colored spandex, but the more drama the better. V got an A this time around.

Most Original:

The WTA's resident fashionista, Maria Sharapova, tends to always perfectly balance tennis and real-life trends into her on-court style, and this year's French is no different. The Russian mixed black with a pretty burgundy-ish color to make an asymmetrical Nike design that, contrasting to some reports that claim the dress looks like the designer ran out of fabric, is trendy and suits Maria just right.

Best Detailing:

Serena Williams' Nike blue and neon green dress is definitely a winner, as the two colors work great together. But that's not the best part. The pleating at the bottom of the world number 1's ensemble is impeccable and takes the dress from boring to beautiful. I do, though, have one minor problem. Don't you guys think it seems much more Aussie Open than French Open?

Best Use of Color:

Jie Zheng makes her debut on Serve and Return;s best dressed list with a top/skirt combo that's fun and pops on the red clay of Paris. Her pleasantly surprising outfit, made by Anta, is a colorful statement-making getup that adds the perfect amount of pizazz to the Chinese's fiery game.

Been There, Done That, Still Cute:

It seems to me that Jelena Jankovic wears the same yellow Anta design each week with the exception of an added ruffle here or an extra pleat there. It's time for the designers over at the Chinese brand to come up with something new and exciting for a personality like JJ. But, despite the DeJa Vu of the Serb's wardrobe, there's no denying it looks pretty good.

Snooze Alarm:

Could Elena Dementieva's teal Yonex garment look any less drab and uninspiring? We've seen it before, and we though it was boring then. Elena, we're still bored.

Worst Dressed:

Hey, I'm all for taking risks, if you can pull it off. And I hate to say it but Aravane Rezai, my dear, you can not pull this look off. There's Metallic and there's lace and there's ruffles and there's puffy sleeves and there's a collar. It's all very overwhelming. If Ms.Rezai wants to get on the list of best dressed, she's gonna have to start appreciating minimalism. Sweety, sometimes less really is more. Much more.

Random Detail Added at the Last Second:

Victoria Azarenka's Nike dress could have been a success if it weren't for the ugly stripes added in, at what looks like last second. The random and grotesque lines give the look an unfinished feel and the Belarusian should have and could have gone without them. Thankfully, Vika and her dress both didn't last very long..

Aussie Open Day 11 &12: Serena and Henin, Federer and Murray to Square Off for AO Titles

Throughout Roger Federer's illustrious career, perfection has been expected, and nothing less. Obviously, we know that can't always be accomplished by on Day 12 of the Australian Open, the world number 1 gave the crowd a masterful display. The Swiss thwarted 10th seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in advancing to his 8th consecutive major final, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. In just 88 minutes of play, Federer hit 33 winners to just 13 winners, breaking serve 5 times and not once being broken. Roger will get his chance to win back his Aussie Open title on Saturday, and it won't be easy.

The other world number 1, Serena Williams, had to fight a little more than expected to get her crack at the trophy. In the semifinal, Serena took on her sister's conqueror, Li Na, defeating the Chinese 7-6(4), 7-6(1), hitting 33 winners to 24 errors, while her opponent had a ratio of -18. Williams will go for her 5th Australian Open title and 1st in an odd-numbered year at 7:30 pm Melbourne time, 3:30 am Friday morning ET.

Federer's championship opponent? Andy Murray. The Scot defeated Marin Cilic in 4 sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. After getting off to a slow start, Murray played some of his best tennis of the tournament in derailing the Croatian 14th seed, who hit almost double the amount of errors as Muzz in his 1st ever Grand Slam semifinal. Federer and Murray met in the 2008 US Open final where the Swiss prevailed in straight sets, but Andy leads the head-to-head 6-4.


The story of the tournament, Justine Henin, kept her title hopes alive when she surrendered just 1 game in a dominating performance against Jie Zheng. The Belgian will face frenemy Serena in the final riding a wave of momentum after hitting just 14 unforced errors in 51 minutes on the court. Zheng's run reached a screeching halt, as she hit 3 winners in defeat.


Could we have asked for a better women's final? Grab your red bull, because I'm getting up at 3:30 am to watch this classic. Here is a piece from Henin's presser:

Q. Are you surprised it’s taken you so long to play Serena in a Grand Slam final?
JUSTINE HENIN: We’ve never played in a Grand Slam final in the past. It’s my first Grand Slam since I’m back, and we’re already there. So it’s more than a dream. I mean, I’m so happy to play against her because if I want to win another Grand Slam, I’ll have to beat the best player of the world. And that’s just the biggest challenge I could get.

I have to be honest, I didn’t really expect that. But now that’s a reality that is coming. I will try to be at my best.

Aussie Open Day 9: Murray Romps Rafa, Cilic Fights off A-Rod, Zheng, Henin to Meet in Semis

Let me start by saying HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to all of those down under.

Anywaysss...

As good as Andy Murray has looked at this year's Australian Open, it was hard to see him playing at an even higher level, but the Scot did just that Monday night, as he used a perfect balance of offense and defense to pulverize Rafael Nadal. The 5th seeded Murray clicked on all cylinders in the 1st set, winning it 6-3 before Rafa turned it up a notch and took the 2nd set to a tiebreak. After that, things were only negative. The Spaniard was pushed around in the breaker, losing it 7-2. In the 3rd set, Murray jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the same injury that forced Nadal out of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships returned. The world number 2's famed knee tendinitis forced him to retire from the match at 3-6, 6-7 (2), 0-3.

Let's all pray that this injury doesn't hinder Rafa for long. He looked like he was ready to return to his summer 2008 form. What a bummer.

Justine Henin reached the semifinals after she successfully kept her title hopes alive with a straight-set win over Nadia Petrova. At times we saw the old Petrova, the head cased one that over-hits her shots at unnecessary times, but overall, both ladies were playing high-level tennis, and it was Justine that had the fire lit within her. The Belgian told the press, "I think it (the Australian Open) was the best place for me to start again. So it’s just great. Here in Australia I had different feelings in the past. But for me, I mean, when I lost to Sharapova, it was a difficult moment in my career. When I had to retire in the final in 2006, it was one of the worst moments of my career. But I just keep positive things."

The other men's semifinal, between Marin Cilic and Andy Roddick, had plenty of momentum changes, but it was the 6'6 Croatian who rode the final wave of confidence, outlasting Roddick in 5 sets to reach his 1st Grand Slam semi and win his 3rd 5 setter of the tournament. Cilic hit 63 winners and 20 aces, outplaying Roddick in both categories by 12 and 5 respectively. The American was complimentary of his younger opponent afterwards, stating that, "He keeps it together real well. Unlike a lot of the young guys who are very emotionally up and down, he doesn’t beat on his chest, he stays the course, he’s very deliberate, he hits the ball very well. Doesn’t give an inch on the baseline. He literally sets up shop right behind the baseline and isn’t going to be moved."

Wonder if Marin will be able to recover in time to play his semifinal match vs. Murray.

The most under-the-radar of the remaining contenders in men's and women's singles is Jie Zheng, but 5'5 Chinese didn't play like it on Monday. Her on-point shot placement and great movement caused problems for her Russian opponent, Maria Kirilenko, as Zheng dominated for a 6-1, 6-3 win. This is her 2nd GS semifinal appearance, and her compatriot, Li Na, will have a chance to join her in the final 4 tomorrow. After the match, Zheng told the press of her admiration for her semifinal opponent, Justine Henin, saying "Yeah, first of all, I favor her for her is have the so strong the mentally. I watch her play always ‑ how you say ‑ enjoy to watch her for play. For second I think is tough match for me, is big challenge. But I like it. I want do something, yeah"