The Best and Worst of Tennis Fashion in 2016
Serena Williams considers the tennis court a stage where she performs and believes, like rock and pop performers, what she wears is part of the act.
Williams told rap artist and actor Common in an interview for ESPN's The Undefeated In-Depth that tennis provides its athletes a unique fashion platform: "It's one of the few sports where you can kind of dress up like in a costume and go on the court and play. So it's kind of cool."
One of sports' biggest fashion icons, Williams is often among the best-dressed and this year was no different.
What other players stood out?
In a banner year for fashion faux pas, tennis took a turn toward the ridiculous, including the too-nightie-like Nike dresses at Wimbledon and the Adidas zebra prints at the French Open.
Still, there were players such as Williams, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who showcased how years of experience—and better clothing contracts—lead to more fashionable attire.
The following is the best and worst in tennis fashion in 2016.
Worst: Bethanie-Mattek Sands, Indian Wells
1 of 10
If there were a Hall of Fame for worst-dressed in tennis history, Bethanie Mattek-Sands would have secured a spot and probably would consider it an honor.
Mattek-Sands loves to stand out and always wears quirky designs. This mismatch outfit she wore at Indian Wells epitomizes her frumpy-sporty look with trademark knee-high socks.
It's so dreadfully Bethanie.
Best: Pablo Carreno Busta, US Open
2 of 10
The Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta looked all-American in this red, white and blue kit made by Joma. The red accents around the collar and sleeves complement the red, white and blue sneakers. Sporty, yet tailored and trimmed, this ensemble was Carreno Busta's best fashion foot forward this year.
Worst: Grigor Dimitrov, US Open
3 of 10
This neon yellow-green color was everywhere at the U.S. Open. When paired with black, the color pops and adds life.
White tones down and almost neutralizes the vibrant color. In Grigor Dimitrov's case, the color sits on the center of the shorts and looks faded. It's neither daring nor boring enough to make a statement. Nike calls this hue "volt." However, it's more like revolting.
Best: Roger Federer, Australian Open
4 of 10
From the neon green accents on his shoes to his signature headband, Federer is a well-put-together man from head to toe.
The stripes on the polo add a casual look to Federer's usual simplistic, country-club style.
The Nike kit features simple green trim around the shorts that complement the splashes of color on his shoes and shirt. This was Federer's best look this year.
Worst: Nike Neon Glow Group, US Open
5 of 10
Yuck, more of the "revolting" glow stuff from Nike.
When worn from head to toe, it's simply too much and could possibly even be cheating. The color is way too close to the shade of the balls, making it harder for an opponent to see.
The night version featured more black than yellow. A splash of neon with black is bearable, although the outfits appeared to glow in the dark.
Best: Serena Williams, US Open
6 of 10
Williams dares to be different, and this Nike dress with coordinating sleeves marked the first time the tennis star wore compression clothing as a fashion statement.
Tennis' wonder woman brought the superhero vibe to the court with this look. Her day outfit was white and pink—prettier, but not quite as bold as the black.
The pleated skirt and skin-tight bodice demonstrate that strength and femininity can coexist.
Worst: French Open Zebra Zoo
7 of 10
One of the worst looks in years, Adidas' zebra prints became a hot topic at the French Open. Several players wore this look, and when they played each other, oh, the eye strain.
The New York Times' fashion writer Vanessa Friedman called the designs "eye-boggling black-and-white zebra stripes."
If press is what Adidas wanted, mission accomplished. But overall, this was a fashion fail.
Best: Novak Djokovic, French Open
8 of 10
This well-tailored Uniqlo kit is Djokovic's signature look. He wears the same style at almost every tournament. Why not? It looks great on him, especially in red and black.
He also paired the red shirt with white shorts. The outfit is so well designed that the trim on his shirt and shorts line up even when he's in motion.
Worst: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Wimbledon
9 of 10
Of course Mattek-Sands makes the list twice. In fact, she could probably fill up an entire slideshow of fashion faux pas.
Few people can make all-white all wrong. But leave it to Mattek-Sands and her unique brand of creativity to deliver this disastrous fringed fashion statement at Wimbledon.
Best: Serena Williams, Wimbledon
10 of 10
Williams also makes the list twice, but she's on the opposite end of the spectrum from Mattek-Sands.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion could fill an entire slideshow of best-dressed outfits. But the Wimbledon dress is among the most beautiful kits she's worn in her career.
The NikeCourt Premier dress features a mock-neck sporty top and a flirty pleated skirt. Even when hitting the ball faster than 100 mph, Williams looked like a ballerina in this figure-flattering kit.
"You see all these performers, they're wearing costumes when they go on stage," Williams told The Undefeated. "When I'm at Wimbledon I want to wear my best costume. That's our stage and so when you're on stage you kind of want to look your best."
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Draft Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
.jpg?w=600 "McVay's Reaction to Ty Simpson Pick 😅")