New Yorkers or those of you heading to the U.S Open this week can look forward to get your hands on the U.S Open branded apparel at the USTA first-ever pop-up store in New York City.
Through a multi-platform partnership with Team Retail Solutions, a leading event merchandise management company, US Open Soho will build awareness for the US Open and provide access to exclusive US Open merchandise for fans who cannot attend the event.
US Open SoHo will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, beginning August 22 through September 10. The store will be located at 129 Prince Street, on the corner of Prince and Wooster, in New York City’s SoHo shopping district. One of the featured products at US Open SoHo will be the new US Open Breakpoint DVD board game which includes footage and images from some of the most memorable moments in US Open history.
Additionally, the store will carry a vintage Tad Davis clothing line capturing the spirit of the 40th anniversary of the Open Era and co-branded US Open products by Under Armour.
Heidi Klum, as part of the USTA’s wide-ranging green initiatives at the 2008 US Open, has designed a limited edition official US Open t-shirt that will also be sold at US Open SoHo.
In conjunction with the store’s opening, two special appearances and autograph signings are scheduled featuring Hall of Fame tennis journalist Bud Collins on Sunday, August 24 at 5 p.m., and American tennis star (recently featured in the Playboy magazine) Ashley Harkleroad on Tuesday, August 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Other autograph signings will be announced throughout the week.(Images via U.S. Open website)
Gone are the years where androgynous-looking tennis players like Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff and Billie Jean King shouted the word feminism.
Today, the WTA players ooze sex appeal rather than sexism. We have more 'Anna Kournikova' now than yesteryears, which I believe is a good thing. I mean that's the BEST THING that ever happen in women tennis.
However, unlike Anna Kournikova, many top women players today are able to sell more than just sex appeal. They dominate on court and the WTA rankings. They win trophies and the Grand Slams too.
We love the whole package: talents and good looks. Fans and the media love to see these players on court as much as to see them off court.There’s Ana Ivanovic in Dolce and Gabana being escorted to a swanky party by Sir Richard Branson. Or glam shots of Daniela Hantuchova in an airline magazine; Venus Williams signing copies of a book of glamorous shots of her at Ralph Lauren’s London store and so on and so on until you get to Ashley Harkleroad on the cover of the new issue of Playboy ~ excerpt from Tennis Week.
Ashley Harkleroad and her strategically placed towel.
According to Larry Scott, the chief executive of WTA tour, in the London's Financial Times newspaper,
"All sports are trying to distinguish themselves through their athletes and the glamorous nature of what they do. That’s what sponsors are after."
Personally I'm embracing the development in the women tennis world these days. At least I have more off court highlights to blog about. And I admit that recently I do spend more time watching women players on TV too. This article in Tennis Week is right: more glamour equals bigger ratings.
(Images via FHM and Playboy)
A couple of months ago, Ashley Harkleroad created a huge sensation in the tennis world not because of her accomplishment on the tennis court, but because of her announcement to be the latest athlete to pose for Playboy.
So there you go a sneak peek at Ashley Harkleroad's much-talked about August Playboy spread.
I haven't got much information about the article nor have the time to surf for it but here's what Downthelinetennis says:
The mag gets down to the nitty-gritty with the 23-year old baller discussing sex, locker room looks and Anna Kournikova. Some choice quotes:
“I do think athletes have better sex,” she asserts with a bashful giggle. “Who wants a waify girl with no definition to her body? I like that I have some power and that everything’s tight.”
“Tennis players don’t mind showing off their bodies,” she said. “Often in the locker room I feel other girls’ eyes on me.”
“Anna [Kournikova] is stunning to look at, but she’s probably a bit damaged from what she’s been through. That’s how she acts — a bit damaged.”
(Image via orlandosentinel.com)
New Yorkers or those of you heading to the U.S Open this week can look forward to get your hands on the U.S Open branded apparel at the USTA first-ever pop-up store in New York City. 
In conjunction with the store’s opening, two special appearances and autograph signings are scheduled featuring Hall of Fame tennis journalist Bud Collins on Sunday, August 24 at 5 p.m., and American tennis star (recently featured in the Playboy magazine) Ashley Harkleroad on Tuesday, August 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
