Bethanie Mattek-Sands' Fashion Odyssey

SI Staff | May 9, 2013

Bethanie Mattek-Sands' Fashion Odyssey

Tennis ball jacket

Eye black, animal prints, tube socks, cowboy hats, tattoos. Bethanie Mattek-Sands has consistently pushed the boundaries of tennis fashion since turning pro in 1999. The American hardly disappointed at 2010 Wimbledon, sporting a tennis-inspired warmup jacked created by one of Lady Gaga's designers. Here's a look at some of her memorable fashion statements through the years.

"Stinger Bee" apparel

AP

After becoming the first American junior tennis player to win both singles and doubles titles at the prestigious Les Petit AS tournament in France, Mattek-Sands announced she was turning pro and launching her nickname "Stinger Bee" line of tennis apparel in New York. The 14-year-old from Boca Raton, Fla., represented JC Gear.com, with a portion of the proceeds going to help restore the lives and library of Colorado's Columbine High.

Straw hat

Mattek-Sands wore a hat a during the women's doubles final at the 2005 JP Morgan Chase Open in Carson, Calif. Later this summer, she'd be fined for wearing a similar striped cowboy hat at the U.S. Open.

World Cup theme

AP

With the World Cup in full swing, Mattek-Sands opted for a "soccer theme" at Wimbledon in 2006: £10 football socks, chandelier earrings, a tube top worn over a strappy vest top, tiny running shorts and a headband. (The Wimbledon museum promptly snapped it up for its collection.)

Toga dress

Mattek-Sands wore a loosely draped beige top with a crocheted waist and split sleeves that resembled a toga at the 2006 U.S. Open ...

Crocheted knee-high socks

AP

... but it was the crocheted beige knee-high socks that really set her U.S. Open outfit apart.

Metallic dress

Mattek-Sands won her first U.S. Open match in seven years wearing this metallic number in 2007.

Leopard-print outfit

AP

Mattek-Sands wore this leopard-print outfit for a doubles match at the U.S. Open.

Zebra stripes

AP

Mattek-Sands wore a zebra-striped dress at the 2008 U.S. Open.

Knee-high socks

AP

By the 2009 U.S. Open, Mattek-Sands' knee-high socks had become a calling card.

Tattoo

EPA/Jason Szenes/Landov

Mattek-Sands regressed to a relatively conservative outfit for the 2010 U.S. Open, but showed off some ink on her forearm.

Prep chic

Mattek-Sands returned to the prepster look at the 2011 Moorilla Hobart International.

Eye black

Mattek, shown here at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., began wearing her own line of eye black during the 2011 season.

Asymmetrical tennis dress

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Mattek-Sands donned a black, one-shoulder Under Armour dress at the 2011 French Open.

Long-sleeved patterned shirt

AP

Mattek-Sands wore an unusually patterned long-sleeved shirt for her third-round loss to Jelena Jankovic at the 2011 French Open.

Tennis-inspired gown

Mattek-Sands stole the spotlight at the pre-Wimbledon party with a flamboyant tennis-inspired gown. Mattek commissioned designer Alex Noble -- best known for his work with Lady Gaga -- to create the attention-grabbing dress.