LONDON (AFP) — Maria Sharapova performed a Wimbledon striptease on Tuesday, but all in good taste and all in the name of fashion.
The Russian pin-up walked onto Court One dressed in a cream tuxedo-style jacket and long trousers before stripping down to play in a white vest and shorts for the first time.
Sharapova, the 2004 champion, is familiar with daring outfits at the championships -- she once played in diamond-encrusted shoes.
"I'm going with the traditional shorts," said Sharapova, who faces France's Stephanie Foretz in her opener.
"I've never worn shorts at a Grand Slam. Call it menswear, obviously. It's kind of like a tuxedo look, very simple lines, classic."
On Monday, five-time mens' champion Roger Federer and double women's title winner Serena Williams went head-to-head in the fashion stakes at the All England Club.
For the last two years, Federer strolled onto centre court wearing a cream blazer and the letters 'RF' flamboyantly stitched into his right breast pocket.
But this year, he has opted for a 1920s-style, herringbone-patterned cardigan instead.
"It was Nike. We've been talking, what could we do? I thought two jackets was enough. Let's move on to something a little bit different," said the Swiss after moving into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Dominik Hrbaty.
"We thought about something nice, like a cardigan or a jumper. It's a little bit more easier to wear than the jacket, to be honest."
Not to be outdone, Williams, over on Court One, appeared for her match with Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in a trenchcoat despite the 25-degree temperatures.
"I probably have more coats than anyone. I'm always buying Burberry. I don't know why as I live in Florida so it doesn't really add up," said the American after her 7-5, 6-3 win.
"Now I have a wonderful white coat I can wear in New York on rainy days."
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