The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : `Innovator' Serena at work again

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Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

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Sport - Tennis

`Innovator' Serena at work again

LONDON, AUG. 31. Soon the formal white skirts and tops which are a trademark for tennis, will give way to hep leather jackets, pleated gladiator-style minis and knee-high boots, thanks to a new fashion range launched by tennis star Serena Williams.

According to Hello magazine, the new range which is all set to revamp style in tennis, has been launched in collaboration with sportswear giant Nike and Serena has reportedly churned out her own innovative designs, drawings and fabrics for the line.

"We wanted to design a collection that helped me to stay cool but that also looked cool," Serena was quoted as saying.

Williams said her choice of denim was inspired by Agassi, who wore shorts made of that material back in the early 1990s. That was when Agassi was Mr. `Image is Everything.' These days, he's more `Father Knows Best,' playing a limited schedule now that he and wife Steffi Graf have two children.

Williams termed it her `Rebel Without a Cause' look, and said it should be described as `Serena the Innovator strikes again.' She won the 2002 Open wearing what she called a catsuit, a skintight black Lycra outfit that caused a stir.

"It's great that Serena has so much confidence to stand out and do something different. She goes beyond tennis," 1979 and 1981 U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin said. "Tennis needs that. We need the Andre Agassis, the Serena Williams, the Maria Sharapovas, the Andy Roddicks that are willing to stand out and be different."

She also admitted that though her trendy designs might rake up some controversies, yet people would accept them.

"I think there will be some people like, `What is she doing?''' she said. "But they know deep down they want it," she added. — Agencies

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