In Melbourne

TENNIS players love clothes.

They are either shopping for them, commenting on them, wearing them or changing them. In one particlarly famous incident in England, a female player changed her shirt on court, with ballboys holding towels around her. (Officials were not pleased.)

Men's players are also known to lose their shirts, but mostly figuratively.

Then again, in a famous moment at the Australian Open many years ago, two Frenchmen celebrated their doubles victory by throwing their shirts, shoes, shorts and socks into the crowd. Fortunately, they were wearing briefs.

But the most controversial moment in tennis clothing must have been when legendary tennis togs designer Ted Tinling attached lace to player Gussie Moran's panties in 1949. He was promptly banned from Wimbledon. 

On Thursday, with this tournament yet to get deadly serious, conversation returned to this familiar topic.

Serena Williams, who once played in boots and, on another occasion, in a catsuit, is considered somewhat of a fashion diva. Whereupon, it seemed pertinent for her to be asked what she thought of First Lady Michelle Obama's two outfits.

Predictably almost, she was pleased. "I loved them", said Williams junior, whose press conferences are often an event.

"I thought the green outfit was fabulous. I really liked the necklace that went with it. Then her white dress, the one shoulder piece, I liked it a lot."

Then, she confessed" "I wish I could have designed a dress for her. I should have submitted a design." In case you were wondering, she added: "I  do more or less consider evening gowns as my speciality." 

Source: Reuters

Serena is used to conversation on clothes. Clearly, however, Rafael Nadal is not.

The Spanish star is not comfortable talking about image makeovers despite the fact that he is currently in the midst of one. And not everyone has been complimentary about the lengthening of Nadal's shorts (the sleeveless look has gone), and the shortening of his long shorts. In short, he looks like everyone else.

Source: Reuters

Without trying to sound like a fashion critic (it doesn't help that I am partially colour-blind), there is a raw beauty to Nadal's game, and his earlier look, part-pirate, part-Red Indian brave, suited him. The no-sleeves emphasised his muscles, and they were a sort of visual reminder of both strength and hard work.

It gave the sense of an unleashed Nadal.

Now, he looks more buttoned up, more civilized, but perhaps he thinks as No.1 he must look the part. Certainly, he is no longer a boy, but the best player in world. 

When told at his press conference that some fans didn't seem to enjoy his new look, he said he hadn't heard that. Then he continued: "No, I am feeling okay. I am feeling well. For sure, when you have a change, some people like, other people don't like. For sure with the sleeveless, not everybody like the sleeveless. Right now gonna be the same, no? But, anyway, is a change. But I feel good like this."

Then he concluded, and even Serena the designer might agree: "Important thing in the end is not the clothes; is the ball and racket and play well."