Maria Sharapova Defends US Open Title in New York Style

Maria Sharapova Defends US Open Title in New York Style

August 23, 2007

Sharapova Unveils Custom Day and Evening Dresses Designed
to Match Her Explosive Play and Iconic On-Court Style

    NEW YORK, Aug. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- 

    Today on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center, Maria
Sharapova showed why New York is a magical place for her as
she unveiled her 2007 US Open day and evening dresses she'll
wear for match play.  One of the world's most dynamic
cities, New York is a venue where the tennis star proved
today she could indulge in her love of fashion and sense of
style while making a powerful statement on the court.  The
defending champion joined Nike designers for a press
conference to debut her custom, atomic red,
Swarovski-crystal encrusted evening dress she'll take to
the court in for her first round match.  She modeled the
flared, shift-silhouette dress set against the backdrop of
the New York City skyline that inspired its design.  She
also presented a custom white and black version she'll wear
for day matches. 

    ( Logo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO ) 

    Last year, Sharapova began solidifying her iconic
approach to performance and style by taking on-court wear
to a new level by competing in custom dresses designed
specially for her day and evening matches.  Best known at
last year's tournament for the "little black
dress" she wore for evening matches, Maria sent a
clear message about her style while on her way to winning
the 2006 title.  Continuing the trend for this year's US
Open, Maria will turn heads again in new custom outfits
that showcase her impeccable sense of style while
incorporating cutting-edge technical features, allowing her
to perform at her very best.  

    Building on the success of their past collaborations,
Nike and Maria worked together for the 2nd time,
specifically for the US Open to create coordinated tennis
outfits for day and night matches that seamlessly blend
beauty and performance. "Nike has always understood my
desire to make a big impression in New York," says
Maria. "And the dresses that we've worked on for the
US Open have always looked as good as they feel when I'm
playing. This year is especially exciting because the
designs are inspired by the city itself. " 

    For Nike Head of Global Tennis Apparel Gill Brown,
working with Maria was an opportunity to design apparel for
an athlete whose fashion instinct is as refined as her game:
"She is dedicated to tennis and shows the same amount
of passion for her apparel -- a real perfectionist,"
says Gill. "For the US Open, our challenge was to
design a look that connects Maria to New York and will be
special to her. The answer is the skyline graphic, which
links the day and night dress together in a very dramatic
way."

    New York by Night

    For Maria's night matches, designers worked with her to
create a 
knee-length atomic red dress with a simple, flared shift
silhouette in ultra lightweight Dri-FIT jersey.  The
Dri-FIT fabrication is elegant and sleek, delivering a
fluid silhouette, ease of movement, moisture management,
and breathability. No-sew constructed seams throughout not
only provide a clean finish to the dress, but also
guarantee minimum abrasion and maximum comfort.       

    In addition to its feminine detailing, the dress is
done in an atomic red hue, a striking element that stands
out as powerfully as her forehand.  The tennis star played
a big part in selecting the right shade, innately aware of
which color would best enhance the style she wanted for
this tournament and what it might symbolize. Red, after
all, is the color closely associated with the Big Apple,
from the carpets during fashion week to the twinkling
taillights on 5th Avenue at night.  After winning in New
York last year, red seemed the most appropriate color for
Maria to make her red carpet return to the tournament.  

    Knowing Maria's affinity for the energy and glamour of
New York, Nike integrated New York's famous skyline into
the dress, thereby artfully uniting her game with her
favorite city.  Maria's evening dress literally and
figuratively reflects the backdrop of the city at night. 
The front graphic design is patterned after the skyline
with an abstract twist as the design is inverted and
featured upside down.  By incorporating more than 600
authentic Swarovski crystals, the result is a stunning
neckline worthy of any red carpet appearance.  The New York
skyline is represented in the night dress by more than 600
Swarovski crystals, creating the stunning night skyline of
one of the fashion capitals of the world. Three crystal
buttons down the back create a triple keyhole effect that
offers ventilation and an attractive, 
functional-yet-stylish appearance.  

    New York by Day 

    For Maria's day matches, designers worked with her to
create a classic black and white dress with a simple,
flared shift silhouette also done in an ultra lightweight
Dri-FIT jersey. The outfit is enhanced with feminine
detailing such as an upper body and overlay hem in
transparent Dri-FIT jersey.  Dramatic elements like the
stunning graphics on the front -- that offers a similar
interpretation of the New York skyline flipped on the
inverse -- and a sexy scooped back neckline appeal to
Maria's aesthetic sensibility. 

    Designers also integrated New York's famous skyline
into the day dress.  Both aesthetic and functional, the
abstract graphic -- depicting the inverted, angular shapes
of Manhattan's towering buildings and shadows -- adorns the
transparent fabric of the upper body. By using a laser-cut,
heat bonded self fabric and a highly contrasting color
combination, Nike has transformed this notorious landscape
into a striking, negative-print effect.

    These kinds of dramatic visual touches, along with
unexpected elements like a sexy scooped-back neckline,
appeal to both Maria's aesthetic and athletic
sensibilities. 

    "Details such as these that are extremely
important to Maria," says senior designer Colleen
Sandieson. "Not only do they make her feel special,
but they also help enhance her performance." The
scoop-back design not only facilitates movement, but also
creates a flattering appearance that rivals current runway
looks. Again, Dri-FIT fabrication delivers a fluid
silhouette, ease of movement, moisture management, and
breathability. The no-sew constructed seams offer minimum
abrasion with maximum comfort.  With its color-block
palette of black and white, the day dress is the epitome of
simplicity, beauty, and athletic elegance. Atomic red,
seamless shorts inject an added flash of color for an
eye-catching finish.

    The Venue

    The fourth of the 2007 Grand Slam tournaments, the US
Open will take place August 27th - September 8th in New
York. Tune in as Maria models (by playing in) the dress she
inspired, resetting the boundary where beauty and
performance meet.

    EVENT / MARIA IMAGERY AVAILABLE FROM 7pm ET: 

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sharapova
 
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