Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11749530u)
Serena Williams in action during her first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day One, Melbourne Park, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Mandatory Credit: Photo by DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750038an)
Venus Williams of the USA in action during her first Round Women's singles match against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium on Day 1 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Australian Open Day 1, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Venus, conversely, kept it very simple. I honestly feel like the more elaborate Serena's kits get, the more Venus goes for basics.
Rafa
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning match point in his Men's Singles first round match against Laslo Djere of Serbia during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Nadal ALSO kept things calm this year...
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his Men's Singles first round match against Laslo Djere of Serbia during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
... so the photographers created some drama for him. This is amazing, but it's also so eerie to have the court missing.
Djokovic
Mandatory Credit: Photo by DAVE HUNT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750232bv)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his first Round Men's singles match against Jeremy Chardy of the United States of America on Day 1 of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Tennis Australian Open 2021, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
I am really, really off Novak right now. I may never be back on Novak. But dammit, the man yields some really amazing sports photography.
Frederico Ferreira
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hamish Blair/AP/Shutterstock (11750205ap)
Portugal's makes a forehand return to Australia's Nick Kyrgios during their first match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis - 08 Feb 2021
Federico is definitely trying -- in the green, with the cool photo, he's like Novak Jr.
Kei Nishikori
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andy Brownbill/AP/Shutterstock (11750036ic)
Japan's Kei Nishikori makes a backhand return to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
"I TOO CAN LEVITATE."
Naomi Osaka
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock (11750296ad)
Osaka Naomi of Japan celebrates during the women's singles first round match between Osaka Naomi of Japan and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at Australian Open in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 8, 2021.
Australia Melbourne Tenis Australian Open - 08 Feb 2021
I almost didn't look for a longer photo of Naomi's outfit. It seemed so clear: sports bra, pleated skirt.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Sydney Low/CSM/Shutterstock (11750078b)
3rd seed Naomi OSAKA of Japan in action against Anastasia PAVLYUCHENKOVA of the Russian Federation in a first round match of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena, in Melbourne, Australia. OSAKA won 61 62
Tennis Australian Open Day 1, Melbourne, USA - 08 Feb 2021
But it MIIIIIIGHT be a secret unitard.
Coco Gauff
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Coco Gauff of The United States of America plays a backhand in her Women's Singles first round match against Jil Teichmann of Switzerland during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
I love Coco's stripes.
Heather Watson
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Heather Watson of Great Britain plays a backhand in her Women's Singles first round match against Kristyna Pliskova of Czech Republic during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Heather got the toned-down version, but still good.
Misaki Doi
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hamish Blair/AP/Shutterstock (11750036fc)
Japan's Misaki Doi serves to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Polka dots! We hardly EVER see spots on tennis outfits.
Bianca Andreescu
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11749530dk)
Bianca Andreescu in action during her first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day One, Melbourne Park, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
I'm glad to see Bianca back. The purple outfit is I think the best of the ladies' Nike kits this year.
Petra Kvitova
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rick Rycroft/AP/Shutterstock (11750329c)
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates after defeating Belgium's Greet Minnen during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
This one is okay but I wish the waist were not empire.
Aryna Sabalenka
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andy Brownbill/AP/Shutterstock (11750205bj)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts to Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis - 08 Feb 2021
I am substantially less enamored of the one that employs khaki.
Paula Badosa
Spain's Paula Badosa hits a return against Russia's Liudmila Samsonova during their women's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 9, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
And this one leaves me stone cold.
Karen Khachanov
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11751547bf)
Karen Khachanov celebrates during his first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day Two, Melbourne Park, Australia - 09 Feb 2021
The men got khaki and purple action as well. It's all blocks of color all over the place.
Jannik Sinner
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rick Rycroft/AP/Shutterstock (11750036lp)
Italy's Jannik Sinner makes a backhand return to Canada's Denis Shapovalov during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Even some teal! The white shirt version is less intense. This is A WHOLE LOT going on. Too much.
Nick Kyrgios
Mandatory Credit: Photo by JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750232bx)
Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his first Round Men's singles match against Federico Ferreira Silva of Portugal on Day 1 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Tennis Australian Open 2021, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Inexplicably, Kyrgios decided to ditch the matching shorts and went with some black ones, throwing in yet another element. We need to be SUBTRACTING, not adding, Nick.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hamish Blair/AP/Shutterstock (11750205ad)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios throws his racquet after a point against Portugal's Frederico Ferreira during their first match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia
Australian Open Tennis - 08 Feb 2021
However, he did give me an entertaining picture.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11749530ga)
Nick Kyrgios walking with his towel in his mouth during his first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day One, Melbourne Park, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Or two. He looks like he's vomiting up a towel.
Alex De Minaur
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Alex De Minaur of Australia plays a forehand in his Men's Singles first round match against Tennys Sandgren of the United States during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
"How's my color swirl? I can't concentrate, these balls keep flying at me, just TELL ME, AAAH." Alex, it looks great.
David Goffin
Belgium's David Goffin hits a return against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their men's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 9, 2021. (Photo by Brandon MALONE / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by BRANDON MALONE/AFP via Getty Images)
I can get with this combo. It's a little bit Oscar Meyer.
Barbara Krejcikova
Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova hits a return against China's Zheng Saisai during their women's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 9, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
I don't get the point of the skirt if it doesn't even HOPE to cover your underlying shorts. It's clearly ridden up a little but even so I don't think it had a chance.
Lizette Cabrera
Mandatory Credit: Photo by JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750232al)
Lizette Cabrera of Australia in action during her first Round Women's singles match against Simona Halep of Romania on Day 1 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Tennis Australian Open 2021, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
This looks like it was designed after someone watched Center Stage and fell in love with how the ballerinas layered their strappy tanks.
Greet Minnen
Mandatory Credit: Photo by JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750232br)
Greet Minnen of Belgium in action during her first Round Women's singles match against against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic on Day 1 of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Tennis Australian Open 2021, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
Funky!
Arantxa Rus
Mandatory Credit: Photo by JASON O'BRIEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (11750026ab)
Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the women's singles tennis first round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 08 February 2021.
Tennis Australian Open 2021, Melbourne, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
FLASHY. Also, her shoulders are amazing. Please teach me your ways, Arantxa, unless it involves pull-ups in which case I'm gonna just keep lifting Diet Coke cans.
Alexander Zverev
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock (11750980h)
Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a return during the men's singles first round match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 8, 2021.
Australia Melbourne Tennis Australian Open Day 1 - 08 Feb 2021
Speaking of shoulders, Zverev went full Usual Rafa on us by busting out a tank top. (Having said that... holy cow, he SUCKS.)
Milos Raonic
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11749530h)
Milos Raonic in action during his first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day One, Melbourne Park, Australia - 08 Feb 2021
And Raonic is back! His collared shirt looks off with the shorts, but he's clearly been riding the leg press. Damn.
Garbine Muguruza
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/Shutterstock (11751547v)
Garbine Muguruza celebrates victory after winning her first round match
Australian Open Tennis, Day Two, Melbourne Park, Australia - 09 Feb 2021
"Hi guys, just keeping it chill this year, thanks."
Wang Qiang
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock (11750296x)
Wang Qiang reacts during the women's singles first round match between Wang Qiang of China and Sara Errani of Italy at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 8, 2021.
Australia Melbourne Tenis Australian Open - 08 Feb 2021
