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(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-27 08:03

Women

I'm the Lady Gaga of tennis: Mattek-Sands

Eccentric dresser Bethanie Mattek-Sands says she draws her stylistic inspiration from pop superstar Lady Gaga, and admits she has already started planning her outfits for this year's Wimbledon.

The world No 34 is renowned for her eye-catching on-court attire and regularly competes clad in shorts and knee-high socks and with American football-style tape plastered across her cheeks to combat glare.

The 26-year-old American teamed a pink T-shirt with black shorts and socks in her 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Varvara Lepchenko in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

Quizzed about the inspiration behind her outfits, Mattek-Sands said she felt a stylistic affinity with Lady Gaga, who is as famous for her jaw-dropping costumes as she is for her multi-million-selling albums.

"I think she's very individual," said Mattek-Sands, whose victory over Lepchenko means she will leapfrog Venus Williams to become the American No 2 when the next WTA rankings are published.

"Obviously she's come out with some crazy stuff. I don't know that I would be able to play in a meat dress or anything.

"I was thinking of stapling some bacon on my shoulder or something, but I don't know how that would work out in the sun.

"But she's cool. She has cool songs. Just you never know what she's going to do next, and I really can appreciate that."

Wimbledon's strict dress code, which forbids players from wearing any colors other than white, has forced Mattek-Sands to be creative with her outfits during the tournament at the prestigious All-England Club.

Men

Djokovic, Del Potro put friendship aside

Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro will put their close friendship aside on Friday when they clash for a place in the French Open last 16, the tournament's biggest match-up so far.

Djokovic is the overwhelming favorite not just to see off the giant 1.98m Argentine, but also go on to take the title off Rafael Nadal and assume the world No 1 spot.

His form makes him easily the hottest player on tour.

The Australian Open champion, who has also won all four Masters titles in 2011, now stands five wins away from equaling Guillermo Vilas's record for a winning streak.

The Serb is also only three away from John McEnroe's 1984 record for an undefeated start to a season.

But win or lose on Friday, the 24-year-old Djokovic insists nothing will break his friendship with the injury-plagued del Potro.

"He's a great guy. We have a really friendly relationship off the court, and regardless of what happens, we'll still stay friends," said Djokovic.

"But we're both professional. We want to win on the court.

"He has always had the quality to be at the top of the men's game ... he's a top player for me."

Argentine 25th seed Del Potro, the former US Open champion and a 2009 semi-finalist in Paris, made the last 32 with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic.

Del Potro missed last year's Roland Garros to recover from wrist surgery and was almost forced out of this edition because of a hip injury picked up in Madrid, which forced him to scratch from his clash with Nadal.

Serbian star says food, sex off agenda

Novak Djokovic refused again on Wednesday to divulge the secrets of his French Open super-diet, comparing constant questions on the subject to being quizzed about his sex life.

Serb second seed Djokovic has given up bread and pasta after developing an allergy to gluten, but he will not reveal what he eats instead.

"Because it's private. There are some things I can speak about; there are some things I can't," he said. "I can tell you who is my girlfriend, but I cannot tell you what I do with my girlfriend. This is a difference."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/27/2011 page22)