The biggest names in tennis—sans those who go by Williams—were on hand for the BNP Paribas Open players party in Indian Wells, California, last night. The star-studded affair included the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka, and many more. As this tournament is considered "the fifth Grand Slam" event by many, a number of players and their companions did it up a little more as their attire was concerned. Here are my favorite appearances, all the hits and misses (you can see the photos here, at Tennis Panorama):
Best Look (female): Ana Ivanovic—that rouge lipstick set off her shiny black outfit quite well, so striking and with accent-colored red clutch.
Best Look (male): Rafael Nadal—the on-the-up star just flat-out looks debonair, in a better-tailored jacket than basically everyone else (save Roger Federer's common cuts).
Fashion Yawner: Novak Djokovic—he so often errs on the side of too conservative with his looks, considering his formidable, outsized presence and personality, and how he expresses himself on court. It seeems he's too earnest with his style and wishing to appear Federer-ian and elegant, but the white shirt under a brown sweater just puts onlookers in a sartorial coma.
Makeup Gone Wrong: Jelena Jankovic—dressed in black and with ruddy lipstick just like Ivanovic, but otherwise overly caked on the face (as is her wont most all of the time) to the point that her features become indistinguishable. Weird and sad.
Best Arm Candy: Tomas Berdych's model girlfriend Ester Satorova—a true beauty, simple as that. Nothing new, but each gave good face to boot.
Funkiest Pair: Azarenka and Redfoo—will anyone ever unseat this coupling in the department of funk? Not as long as they're together.
(Side-hit to <strong>Vika and Redfoo</strong>, who win "Most Unintentionally Dramatic Looking Photo of the Night," for this shot.)
Fashion Dud: Fernando Verdasco—the man can look good (see yesteryear's GQ shoot) but was woefully underdressed in an untucked plaid button-up at this party. The ponytail needs to go, and he just appears an unkempt American fratboy here. Disappointment of the night.
Style Upstart (male): Kei Nishikori—looking great in a timeless polka-dot collared shirt and a fun green leather jacket.
Style Upstart (female): Sloane Stephens—her arrival on the big-time scene was again heralded here, as she showed up in a bicep-baring beige top and pants, looking modern and grown-up and yet still young. Perfectly played by the newly minted star.
Best Example of Flying Solo: Marion Bartoli—she appeared elegant in an off-the-shoulder, black-and-white, horizontally-striped number. She's sans papa now, and The Spin says, You go, girl.
Best "Book of Mormon" Impersonation: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—he looked so young and doe-eyed and innocent, clean shaven in a black tie and white dress shirt. Handsome as always.
Fun Trio of the Evening: The Czech ladies—Klara Zakopalova, Lucie Safarova, and Andrea Hlavackova—showed in obviously-coordinated brightly hued pants, and each looked wonderful and happy. This fact remains: A smile is the easiest, simplest, cheapest way to improve one's appearance.
Best Dwarfing (male): John Isner just towered over friend and compatriot James Blake. Both were in their usual preppy get-ups.
Best Dwarfing (female): Petra Kvitova and Dominika Cibulkova are like Vika and Redfoo—as long as they show up together, they will forever have a public-appearance category all to themselves. Petra and Domi looked great in did-they-or-didn't-they coordinated black and white dresses.
Best Al Pacino Impression: Janko Tipsarevic—decked out in nearly all-black, the Serb shot steamy looks at the cameras and yukked it up like he was starring in The Devil's Advocate 2.
Best Sister Act: Agnieszka Radwanska and sister Urszula Radwanska—gorgeous looks for both, especially Aga's dress and Ula's Manola Blahnik heels.
What did you like most among these looks, and what was, to you, a fashion faux pas? Sound off below.
Photos via [@TennisNewsTPN, shot by Maria Noble (@thedoublebagel) and Curt Janka.]
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