Fourhand: Federer, Hewitt duel at sea; Genie debuts "lava tights"

Our latest Fourhand installment features happenings that are cocktail-soaked, seaworthy, sleek, and same-sex affirming. Let's get right to it:

BLONDE AMBITIONS COLLIDE She has claimed an aversion to nightclub and awards-show afterglow atmospheres in late-night TV interviews in the past, but Maria Sharapova was on full display in a lily-white frock at sponsor Tag Heuer's bash this week, partying with the sisters of DJ duo Nervo and model Kate Peck. Postscript: She also took a surprise selfie-stick photo with budding Aussie-teen talent Thanasi Kokkinakis and the (count 'em) 380 ballkids of this impending 2015 Australian Open. That's Maria: Making hundreds of dreams come true at once with the single press of a mobile-phone button.

WATERSPORTS Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt, two multi-major-winning stalwarts of the sport, opted not for Melbourne's toe-chewing tennis turf recently but for a battle at sea in Sydney Harbour, taking shots at each other from the security of speedboat perches:

DREAM OF GENIE As her living collage of of curvy outfits continues, Eugenie Bouchard is now pushing Nike's "lava tights." The Spin is eager to see what she dons for action in Margaret Court Arena next week.

ICYMI  If you've been living under a rock or in a closet this week, it's worth noting that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced plans to allow same-gender doubles teams to play in its adult tournaments, which have historically featured male-and-female tandems solely. This is one of the early initiatives to be rolled out by fresh-faced USTA president Katrina Adams, and the Spin applauds the move.

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