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HEAD introduces the new YOUTEK Radical Series. On Deck, Andy Murray.

Radical changes are in hand for one of the world's best selling racquet frames as HEAD launches its YOUTEK™ Radical Series, one of which Andy Murray plans to switch to in the coming days.

 The YOUTEK Radical Series uses the same YOUTEK technology as  the Speed Series stick that Novak Djokovic plays with; both lines include d3o^TM and grommets with Teflon reducing polymer to reduce friction during hits. YOUTEK is a "smart material" technology that allows the racquet to respond to the specific kind of shot you are hitting,

The differences between the two lines? The new YOUTEK Radical Series offers a combination of power and control for the more classic player. It is not as stiff or heavy as the Speed Series which has a thinner beam and is more of a power choice for heavy hitters.

The three new YOUTEK Radicals include: the YOUTEK Radical Pro (Andy Murray's choice) $210 USD (pictured), the YOUTEK Radical MP/OS a mid-plus and oversized head version, both $210; and the YOUTEK Radical Lite, $200, a super light feeling racquet that makes manuverability a breeze.

New bags for the series are pictured. There are four bags ranging from the 2 racquet backpack, $50 to the 10 racquet Supercombi, $70. All except the backpack offer protection from extreme temperatures.

The HEAD Tour Team bags (orange in color) actually match the new racquet better so if you are a package look lover, that's the bag you want for this stick.

Visit HEAD for more information. Tennis-Warehouse has a demo program so you can play before you buy.

Paint Your Game Colorful with Tennis Style FromTail.

Wimbledon is over. Paint the game colorful again with Tail's Tropical Infusion Collection which offers a flattering color blocked graphic of island manderine and turquoise on navy or white. Pictured left is the Tropical Classic Fit Dress, $99 USD. Mesh on the sides and back insures ventilation.

Look too at Tail's just-released Palm Beach Group for some healthy doses of that perennial summer favorite, pink. Bring on the rainbow and strut your stuff. 

Next in line, Tail will release its Nantucket Collection, adorned with little tennis racquets (a nod to the island's signature whale shorts). This group will appeal to the player who loves old style women's court classics but wants updated style and performance. The fabric is technical, moisture managing soft stretch jersey. Cute ball pockets, ehh?  Preppy but not overly so. Top, $59, bottom, $69.

Find the looks at Tail or Tennis-Warehouse.

Igor Andreev in Court Staples from Under Armour.

I'm seeing a whole lot of Under Armour on the rec tennis courts, especially on guys. There is just something all-athletic about the line -- for the no fluff, no show, just want to get the job done kind of guy.

 Pictured here at Wimbledon Igor Andreev wore a white version of the Under Armour Men's Classic II Crew, $39.99 (similar to the Team Zone Crew) and Men's Woven Short, $39.99; great tennis staples with an edge that includes Heat Gear tech, 30+ sun protection and anti-odor technology.

If you've worn UA you know that this stuff is lightweight and all performance. This particular shirt is not a compression top so much looser fitting than some UA tops. I personally like the look of loose much better than tight (on a guy that is - Rafa excepted). 

Andreev plays with the Babolat Pure Drive GT. Props to him for a great run at All London. Find his gear at Under Armour, Babolat and Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: Igor Andreev vs. Tommy Haas, June 29, 2009 courtesy LIFE.

Tommy Haas' Wimbledon Wardrobe.

Tommy Haas has changed his shirt a few times on the way to the upper echelons of Wimbledon.

Pictured here he wears the new K-Swiss Color Blocked Crew in white and black, $50 USD and Accomplish Short, $35. Mesh inserts in back and under the arms add great ventilation. 

His earlier round alternative was the Accomplish Crew, $30 and his quarterfinal round, the Topstich Polo, $55. Befitting the quarterfinal round, the Polo is a more dressy looking choice, made of performance spandex pique with five topstitched strips across the right chest. Sharp dressed man. 

His hat, the Performance 6 Panel Cap, $22. His racquet, the MicroGel Prestige Mid Plus.

Find the gear at K-Swiss, Head and Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: Haas Sets for a Return, June 29, 2009 courtesy LIFE.

Shahar Peer and Amelie Mauresmo Usher in New Summer Reebok.

WTA players Shahar Peer and Amelie Mauresmo wore some of Reebok's newest for tennis at Wimbledon. I personally love this line in all its simplicity and comfort.

Pictured left on Peer is a two piece group, the On the Move long bra top, $45 and skort, $40 in white. The set is very similar to the newer to market Summer Move Racer Tank, and Summer Move Skort which are available in cucumber green and lilac (gorgeous color). Similar pricing.

The Summer Move skort has a fun two inch pleat with ruffled edge on the back hemline. The matching open back top has an artistic mesh racer design adding feminine flair to an otherwise fairly straight-forward style.

The new Summer collection also offers a dress and ventilation panel blocked two-piece as well.  (both Summer Club). The collection tops all have the racer back, a super flattering neckline and longer top length.

I played in this line on a particularly hot day and found that, despite killer humidity,  the Playdry fabric really did its job. I never felt overheated or encased in fabric.

Peer's shoes are the Reebok Rematch, MSRP $90 USD and her racquet, the Prince EXO³ Red 105.

The pieces are not on the Reebok site but are available at Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Sport, Sony Ericsson WTA

Never Played on Grass? You Can in Newport. Two Summer Tournaments Make This a Perfect Tennis Destination.

Does Wimbledon have you hankering to check out your own tennis game on grass? Here's a vacation idea:

Every summer the International Tennis Hall of Fame offers two top-level tournaments in an immaculate old-world setting. Combine that with a visit to the tennis museum and some personal court time (or a lesson) and you've got a little slice of tennis heaven. Here's the info you need to book a court.

For tournaments: In July there's the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships that runs July 6-12, 2009. Tickets are still available. Mardy Fish, 2-time defending champ Fabrice Santoro, Robby Ginepri and Taylor Dent are scheduled to play. Rod Laver will attend the induction ceremony on the final weekend.

If you can't make that one, look to the International Hall of Fame Champions Cup, running August 20-23, 2009. Another great tournament and a chance to see some of your past favorites in action.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame was recently named by USA Today as a top 10 place "to indulge your love of tennis." Watch a match or two, play yourself, then stroll down to the waterfront docks, restaurants and bars or past the mansions. A perfect summer day.

Get tickets or learn more at: The International Tennis Hall of Fame. or Champions Series Tennis.

The single(s) men of adidas hit England. Win Djokovic's Wimbledon Shirt and Shorts Here!

 

Back to basics for these guys. Novak Djokovic, Fernando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are decked in what I call Wimbledon appropriate brights -- bright whites that absolutely sing summer. Touches of red and black are strategically used to accentuate the adidas brand. If you've worn adidas, you know the feel of these pieces, lightweight, breathable and great fit.

Pictured here top left, Tsonga wears the adidas Men's Competition Tee, $50 USD and Competition Bermuda, $55; Right, Djokovic wears the Men's Edge Top, $65 and Men's Edge Bermuda, $55; bottom, Verdasco wears the Men's Edge Tee with zip, $55 and the Edge Bermuda, $55.

On  their feet: Tsonga wears the new adidas CC Feather grass. Djokovic and Verdasco's shoes are custom with the CC Feather sole.

All pieces, except custom of course, are available at retail.

Register to win Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon shirt and shorts simply by leaving a comment below. Individual U.S. addresses only please. Deadline Thursday, July 2 at 9:00 AM EST. Winner will be drawn at random.

Find the above Wimbledon styles at adidas and Tennis-Warehouse.

Ana Ivanovic, Winsome at Wimbledon. Win Her New adidas Dress Here!

 

Finally, time for a change! Ana Ivanovic stepped out at Wimbledon wearing the new adidas women's adilibria Wimbledon dress. This is a lightweight, form fitted dress in bright white with touches of the cherry red adidas athletes are sporting this year at All England. It retails for $75 USD and yes Ivanovic's entire Wimbledon ensemble will be available at retail.

Ivanovic clearly loves the artistry that asymmetrical provides; the three angled layers of scalloped stretch tulle add feminine swing and flair to an otherwise straightforward dress. You will no doubt recall the asymmetrical dress she had been wearing since last year. This one is easy all over flattering, slimming with great coverage -- no tugging. All ClimaCool.

Her shoes are the red and white  Barricade V, $105 updated with a playful graphic medley of  triangles, a pattern that picks up the splashes of color on the dress, visor and wrist bands. adidas makes a mid-weight summer competition warm up jacket, $80, that would look awesome over this dress. It also has a touch of the triangle graphic.

Pristine, beautiful, and possibly yours! We're giving away one adilibria Wimbledon dress to someone lucky!  Enter to win by leaving a comment below. Be sure to note your email in the correct field (it will not be displayed). Contest ends Wednesday, July 1 at 9 AM EST. Individuals with U.S. addresses only please.

Buy Ana's look at adidas or Tennis-Warehouse.

Nike's angels. Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2009.

There's a whole lot of tailored going on at Nike tennis these days, at least when it comes to outerwear.  I'm talking specifically about Sharapova's Wimbledon jacket and S. Williams' coat. Stepping on court both women are buttoned up in fashionably constructed military and business classics.You saw Federer's jacket too.

The jackets however cover two different fit-for-angels tennis dresses. Not an epaulet or stiff detail in sight. Nice contrast.

According to Nike, Maria worked alongside the development team to come up with this dress that combines aesthetic appeal and performance. It certainly is a lot less fussy than her dress in Paris.

Different textures and inset shapes combine to create volume at the bottom of the dress, which enables better motion and easier leg movement. No-sew construction of the shorts and back of the dress reduces friction against the skin and eliminates excess fabric and bulk. It looks comfortable and has some great back detailing.

 Maria’s warm-up jacket is a structured Old World Russia military style providing a striking counter-balance to the free form of the dress.

No word yet on whether or not these pieces will be at retail. It is doubtful based on Nike's track record with Maria-style this year.

Serena's trench coat is a showpiece. This season Nike re-masters it with a nod to a traditional English Macintosh. The detailing includes a double breasted lapel front and English Mac-inspired gun flaps at back which release heat while she warms up.

 The trench is customizable and the bottom skirt can be removed. Serena will wear it two different ways, with an elongated handkerchief hem to conceal her dress underneath, and also as a cropped length biker-style silhouette. She will wear this while walking on and off of the court, as well as for her pre-match warm-up. Hugely doubtful this will be available at retail but it's cool.

Serena’s dress, on the other hand, is about soft tailoring. The beauty is in the simplicity, but viewed up close it has extreme attention to detail. There are saddle stitched seams strategically placed throughout to ensure a great fit. A drop waist elongates the torso, and the bottom hem features a small bustle with mesh box pleats at the back of the dress.

I personally love white on the tennis court and often think that simpler is better when it comes to fashion.

Editor's after-note: Confirmed. Serena's dress is the Athlete Court Dress, $100 available soon at Nike and Tennis-Warehouse. Her coat, Maria's jacket and Maria's dress, just for them.

White, Gold and Glamorous. Roger Federer at Wimbledon.

 Roger Federer's clean Wimbledon style is an ideal match for the traditional look and feel of the prestigious event. A Wimbledon "twitterer" equated his jacket to a Sgt. Pepper kind of look which indeed it is but oh-so-polished in bright white and his usual accent at Wimbledon, regal gold. Altogether it is a bit much for the eyes. It works better in this image without bags and headband.

 The warm-up jacket is inspired by a jacket in the Nike Sportswear line, the M-65. It’s a modern interpretation of a classic military silhouette from 1965. The intricate hand crafting and uniform collar provide Roger with an almost untouchable look as he walks on and off court.

Roger’s polo (the Dri-FIT Court Men's Tennis Polo, $65) is made with moisture-wicking Nike Dri-FIT technical fabric. An embossed herringbone pattern gives the shirt texture up close. It's light and comfortable, quite a beautiful athletically inclined shirt. Nothing heavy about it although the formal look might make you think it is stiff.

The gold accents which begin in and outside  the shirt collar and swoosh continue down the shorts in a style alluding to a sharply tailored tux. The gold is muted, not glittery glam.  

Roger’s Wimbledon outfit is completed with a coordinating vest and trousers (costume even for him), which can be worn in different ways depending on the weather throughout the tournament. They both incorporate Nike Dri-FIT technology that wicks moisture away from the skin. The look is very Roger, refined and regal. Classy to the core. A man on a mission and proof positive you can look powerful in white.

Top and shorts ($50)  will be available at Nike or Tennis-Warehouse. The jacket is custom. Not available. Shoes of gold, Nike Zoom Vapor VI Tour, $115. Bandana, $15.