Ivan Lendl Never Looked This Good

Nobody wanted to take fashion tips from starchy Steffi Graf. But now, with two bold, stylish women — Serena and Venus Williams — ruling the game, the fashion industry is playing mixed doubles with the world of tennis. At the spring 2004 menswear shows in Milan last week, Gucci designer Tom Ford introduced a chic take on the tennis bag in crocodile and a Stan Smith-style sneaker with croc trim. At the menswear shows in Paris, meanwhile, Louis Vuitton featured tennis whites as a major theme. Over at Wimbledon, where tennis was actually being played, Venus Williams was serving up her new look on Centre Court: a Diane Von Furstenberg-designed Reebok tennis dress with corsetlike lacing up the back. Anna Sui's current line includes "a tennis dress, pleated miniskirts, sweater sets and tube socks," says Sui, adding, "They've sold out in stores." Designers, get your pique, pleats and polo shirts ready.