No, not Jack Sock. Tennis socks.
When you hear the term tennis sock, you probably picture the cute low-cut socks that sit just below the ankle. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember they once had colorful pompoms on the back. I may have even owned a few pairs of these myself.
Tennis players still wear those socks, of course, minus the pompoms. But every so often you see someone in knee socks. Bethanie Mattek-Sands was the first player I ever saw in knee-high legwear, often in combination with pink hair and eye black. Bethanie wears compression socks, but based on the photo below, I’m guessing she’d wear wacky knee socks even without a medical reason.
Embed from Getty Images
Bethanie is one of my absolute favorite players, so I’m not going to include her in the poll. I can’t have you writing snarky comments about her.
Fortunately I found two other knee sock-wearing players. At this week’s tournament in Stuttgart, Laura Siegemund bucked convention by combining sporty white knee socks with a feminine black tennis dress–an striking contrast in color, style and texture.
Embed from Getty Images
And at last year’s U.S. Open, Alexander Zverev debuted an outfit designed by music-veteran-turned-fashion-neophyte Pharrell Williams. (Reportedly, Zverev wanted to push the socks down around his ankles but didn’t dare with Pharrell sitting in the stands.)
Embed from Getty Images
Both Zverev and Siegemund won only one match in their respective tournaments. No word on whether this had anything to do with their legwear.
We have two important sock-themed fashion polls today.
Short socks essential, have to be high enough to avoid the clay getting in when playing outside.. but avoid suntan lines !
Good point–these players must look ridiculous at the beach! And I hate coming home with clay on my feet. Is there a sock brand that’s perfect for this?
zverev in knee socks, not a good look! i remember the pompoms!!!!
USTA spends a ton of money trying to attract more kids to the sport. Maybe all they need to do is bring back the pompoms.