Always fashionable to dress like a champ

NEW YORK - From Maria Sharapova helping design her latest little black dress to Alexander Zverev being reluctant to pull down his tube socks, US Open fashion statements are drawing plenty of attention.

It's a battle of clothing manufacturers Nike and Adidas, with world-class action models displaying their style on the court and purchasers, not points, deciding the big apparel winners and losers.

Former world No 1 Sharapova made a triumphant Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban by downing second-ranked Simona Halep and will next face Hungary's Timea Babos in the second round.