Båstad: Summer Playground in Southern Sweden

2016 SkiStar Swedish Open

Båstad on the southwestern tip of Sweden has long been a popular getaway and party capital to many Swedes and visitors from around the world.  Over a two-week period, with it's (actual) sandy beaches, hotels and b&b's, beautiful countryside and the SkiStar Swedish Open (Men's 7/10-7/17) and the Ericsson Open (Women's 7/17-7/24), it's a relaxed atmosphere where top tennis professionals come after the gravity of Wimbledon, where one can kick back and enjoy themselves.

Accommodations

There are many attractive options for lodging in and around the area, from the many quaint and cozy b&b's to small inns to larger more luxurious  hotels, most notably Hotel Skansen, which is located in the middle of the tournament grounds in Båstad.

Båstad Resort and Sports Complex

What's on this week

The SkiStar Swedish Open is one of those unique venues that affords an intimate experience viewing top players close up in competition.  Hotels, shops, the marina and scenic beaches are a 'no-brainer' when it comes to a destination that thinks outside the tourism 'box'.

Krona o Stjärna Wireframe Tennis Line

The European grass-court season leading up to Wimbledon® is upon us, so we at Krona o Stjärna have been inspired to create the new Wireframe™ tennis t-shirt line. Based on the airy American Apparel sublimation tee, we have created a comfortable and stylish offering for tennis and sports enthusiasts of all ages; it's smart enough to dress up or down or be there in the fifth set of your finals match.  The Wireframe™ tennis line will be available in our e-shop on June 14th.

adidas x Y3 Roland Garros 2015

©Images courtesy adidas, 2015

International stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ana Ivanovic debut a new elegant collaboration between designer Yohji Yamamoto and adidas at this year's French Open.  Lightweight materials and rich floral contrast make for a great combination of speed and style this summer.  

UPDATE: Both Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ana Ivanovic made it into their respective Semifinals at Roland Garros.  Well done!

©Courtesy ATP/WTA/FFT/Roland Garros

Catch the matches here:

http://tennischannel.com

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html

STYLE & DOMINANCE: Australian Open Then and Now

Images ©Getty / ATP / WTA / ITF / All other respective owners / All Rights Reserved

Roger, Vika and Rafa may have gone down Down Under, but their style and that of players that came before them have always started off the year with a statement.  Before the dawn of the Open Era (1968) where players like Margaret Court (11 titles), Roy Emerson (7) and Jack Crawford (4) collected titles like baseball cards, the uniform of the day was all white, dignified, conformist, and well, boring.  Then came the splashy art canvases of the 80's and early 90's with spread eagle motifs, paint spatter and day-glo made most famous by Andre Agassi (4).  The late 90's and the dominance of Pete Sampras (2 Australian Titles) on the Men's tour returned the aesthetic to a quieter more subdued style.  In the early 2000's, new materials like Nike's dri-fit™ ushered in a new generation of design freedom, lighter weight and moisture management for everyone from top tour players to public park players looking to emulate their heroes.