Britain's iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament kicks off today - but what's that got to do with high fashion, you will ask? Well, if your name is Maria Sharapova and you're the world's wealthiest sportswoman - not to mention extremely fit, beautiful and with a large number of high-profile endorsement deals under your belt - then the green grass of the British Grand Slam event is as much the place to test your professional skills as it is the perfect place to parade your latest must-have dress style.
However, this year Maria's on court apparel will not be centered around glamorous sports dresses and diamond-studded tennis shoes - but rather on a more traditional pair of shorts.
Usually, the beautiful 21-year old, who won Wimbledon 4 years ago, has taken a liking to wearing dresses on court. Of course, we're not talking about any kind of dresses. Two years ago, at the U.S. Open, Sharapova delighted her fans by donning a sports dress inspired by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Last year at Wimbledon, she wowed fashion critics yet again with her famous by now Swan Dress - a Nike tiered dress with swan-style ruffles
on the back, reminiscent of an elegant pair of wings. In 2008, with the eyes of the entire tennis world upon her, Sharapova once again manages to keep a little fashion surprise up her sleeve.
So this year, fans of the trendsetting sports style icon are bound to be a little disappointed: instead of a rather revealing stylish dress, they will see their idol walk onto the court wearing shorts. "I'm changing my outfit this year," Sharapova herself announced. "I'm going with the traditional shorts, believe it or not. I've never worn shorts at a Grand Slam. Call it menswear, obviously. It's kind of a tuxedo look, very simple lines, classic." A traditional pair of shorts may be a far cry from the pretentious outfits and diamond-encrusted shoes she wore at Wimbledon in the past, but maybe Sharapova is making a more subtle statement via her unassuming outfit - namely that this year, she'll aim straight for number one. No frills attached.
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