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.
Journal
A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.