Image via Complex Original
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The 2011 French Open, Roland-Garros, kicks off today, so we’d like to take a minute and reflect back on the great style influencers from tennis history. From the classic whites of Rod Laver’s era, to the glam-rock swag Andre Agassi brought to the court, tennis is all about style. So, click on the images above, and get some inspiration for tennis season from The 10 Most Stylish Tennis Players On-Court of All Time.
Laver
Rod Laver
Just like the shoes named after him, Rod Laver is a classic to the core. He still stands as the only payer to win the Grand Slam—all four major titles in a single year—twice.
Ashe
Arthur Ashe
The first African American player to win a Grand Slam—Ashe was a pioneer of both the civil rights movement, and the movement for wearing awesome glasses on the court.
Connors
Jimmy Connors
One of the original badasses of tennis, Connors refused to play by the rules and was often booed by crowds for his antics. But he thrived on the energy and wasn’t afraid to rock a knit vest and ascot.
Borg
Bjorn Borg
Many players have attempted the long hair and headband combo, but none have done it as well this Swedish champion. His on-court style was always on-point, making him the main inspiration for Wes Anderson’s Richie Tenenbaum.
Vilas
Guillermo Vilas
Vilas, an Argentinian, brought some South American flair to the courts when he played from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. He's the man when it comes to retro Fila tennis gear.
McEnroe
John McEnroe
An all time great, McEnroe is best known as the “You Can’t Be Serious!” guy, but he also deserves credit for rocking some of the best throw-back tennis looks ever.
Agassi
Andre Agassi
Agassi is as famous for his aggressive game as he is for the wild style that made him one of the biggest stars tennis has ever seen. He cleaned up his look late in his career, but the flashy clothes and Nike Air Tech Challenge remain his most iconic style choices.
Federer
Roger Federer
Federer is a sleeper on this list. Certainly one of the most dominant players in the modern era, but his style choices haven’t been as consistent. He definitely made a statement was this flashy three-piece warm-up suit that he donned at the Wimbledon Finals in 2009.
Monfils
Gael Monfils
The highest ranked French player in the world right now, Monfils lanky frame has earned him the nickname “Spiderman” for the impressive maneuvers he can pull off. He also pulls of a pretty sick ‘fro.
Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Nadal has made plenty of questionable style decisions on the court—remember the manpris? He’s come a long way since then, and there’s nothing questionable about his game, or the yellow Nike Air Max Courtballistic he broke out at the US Open last year.
