The Academy Awards are Hollywood’s version of Wimbledon: literally the biggest and most prestigious date on the calendar where the best of the best in their fields gather in one place to honor their craft. Tradition, luxury, and ultra exclusivity reign supreme – whether on the lawns of the All England Club or the red carpet just outside of the famed Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
And just like Tinseltown’s finest have long been fixtures at tennis events worldwide, tennis stars are starting to make their mark in the showbiz capital.
Everybody knows that the best part of the Oscars is the slew of after-parties – well, that and the swag bags – and it doesn’t get much better than the annual Vanity Fair Oscar bash, where stars like Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, and yes, even, James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, made appearances.
So did tennis’ own glam girl, Maria Sharapova.
The model-esque Russian has been a fixture at fashion shows and other star-studded events. Maroon 5 performed at her 18th birthday party and she met up with Mischa Barton for coffee in Tokyo several weeks ago. Upon her arrival back to the States, Vogue Editor-in-Chief and fashionista, Anna Wintour, threw her a designer-studded party to celebrate Sharapova as a cover-girl for Teen Vogue.
So it is no surprise that the blonde bombshell arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscar after-party clad in a black mini dress with lace trim and black and red Christian Louboutain peep-toe heels, the same ones she wore at the dinner gala in Hong Kong earlier this year (but we won’t tell, Maria). Sharapova, who owns a home in nearby Manhattan Beach, has been home nursing an injury, but she hasn’t been cooped up at home, taking in the LA Lakers-Boston Celtics game on Friday night at the Staples Center.
Not to be outdone, Serena Williams also made her presence felt at the Oscar party scene. Though she appeared to be MIA from the Vanity Fair party, she did show her support for eventual Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson. The former No. 1 and reigning Australian Open champ wore a cream sleeveless dress and silver sandals to Hudson’s nomination celebration on February 21 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Just three days later, Williams attended a pre-Oscar bash at Republic for the Second Annual Queen Latifa and Vibe Magazine Gala in Hollywood. Sister Venus, did not appear as she was competing in Memphis at the Regions Morgan Keegan Tennis Chamionships, where she won the title.