Fashion faults from the 2020 US Open

By Jonathan ScottPublished September 08, 2020

A dearth of fans makes for not-so-distant sounds around Queens wafting into Ashe Stadium, and seeping through televisions the world over. The New York soundtrack has long paired well with flashy attire in what's usually the season-ending major event.

It appears Roland Garros will be the fashion denouement of Grand Slam tennis in 2020, in just three weeks. And so be it. In the meantime, this US Open genuinely seems more erratic from a style standpoint than its kit parade in years past. Find the fashion aces here, and enjoy some temporary schadenfreude in the subjective picks below for the wardrobing also-rans:

In Nike, Denis Shapovalov deserved to own this event, given the 1990s throwbacks the brand had planned. The 21-year-old certainly has the swagger for it. Unfortunately, his shirt's cut was bad, and the wrong kind of baggy. Plus, that predominant tennis-ball color can be irksome.

Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, returns a shot to Taylor Fritz, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

While Lacoste label mates Roberto Bautista Agut and Daniil Medevedev showed strong polo games, Novak Djokovic put on another pedestrian, dated-looking design. Unlike some of his actions, this look was not memorable in its day- or night-session version.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts to missing a point to Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Didn't we almost have it all, Nike? A collection novel in concept got sloppy fast in Flushing. Sloane Stephens, Victoria Azarenka, Arya Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Petra Kvitova, and more in an array of endorsers found themselves whelmed by the print.

Sloane Stephens, of the United States, serves to Serena Williams, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

On the men, it looked like an oil explosion from fixing a car or bike.

Taylor Fritz, of the United States, returns a shot to Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

On the women, like a '90s Trapper Keeper full of Lisa Frank folders was tossed into a blender and then pieced together in haste.

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, right, taps rackets with Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. Azarenka won the match. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

It was just too much of what was a great thing in theory.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Francis Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during his Men's Singles first round match against Andreas Seppi of Italy on Day Two of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

A certain kind of chutzpah is required for a look like this, and some had it more than others.

Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, reacts to winning a point to Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

For those missing that 1990s Andre Agassi realness, James Blake already did this look—and better—at the 2006 US Open. It was a direct "Image is everything" homage to a 1990 AA kit. Take heed, Haus of Swoosh: There was no need.

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: James Blake prepares to hit against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia during the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on September 1, 2006 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Aussie brand Letour outfitted Christopher O'Connell in a shirt with a loudness for New York but a pattern for the bargain bin. It looked a bit childish. Even so, the brand's penchant for repurposing to make our world better and cleaner remains more than admirable.

Christopher O'Connell, of Australia, returns a shot to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Interestingly, Venus Williams and Serena Williams have not truly worn the same brand at the same time. Even so, flesh-toned looks—Venus in her eponymous EleVen and Serena in Nike, per usual—gave way to a blase beige vibe.

Venus Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in New York.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

There's nothing wrong with the dresses themselves, and violet accents on Serena's shoes helped. Overall, this night-session garb underwhelmed. That, of itself, was so unlike them.

Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Margarita Gasparyan, of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Memo to Lotto: Adding royal-blue side panels and mint inflections does not save tired black-and-white stripes. The brand handed unforced sartorial errors to Alize Cornet, Elise Mertens, and Ons Jabeur, among others

Alize Cornet, of France, reacts after scoring a point against Madison Keys, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 05: Elise Mertens of Belgium serves during her Women’s Singles third round match against Catherine Mcnally of the United States on Day Six of the 2020 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Bedecked in Head, 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic should have had better. Full stop.

Marin Cilic, of Croatia, returns a shot to Dominic Thiem, of Austria, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

And with that, we draw the door on another major event in tennis fashion. After a year of pandemic and panic over COVID-19, it turns out that three of four Grand Slam tournaments will be played. From court lines to hemlines, Paris awaits.