Friday Fashion Face-off: Best-Dressed Man at Australian Open (2022)

When the first Friday of a slam rolls around, I’m usually hard pressed to find three candidates for best-dressed man. Not this time, though. An hour ago, I had a list of NINE! There can be only one explanation for this sudden glut of male fashionistas: Word is getting out on the tour about the... Continue Reading →

Friday Fashion Face-off: Best-Dressed Man at Australian Open (2022)

When the first Friday of a slam rolls around, I’m usually hard pressed to find three candidates for best-dressed man. Not this time, though. An hour ago, I had a list of NINE!

There can be only one explanation for this sudden glut of male fashionistas: Word is getting out on the tour about the Fashion Face-off! The men are finally upping their game, hoping to score a coveted nomination—or at least avoid the ignominy of a worst-dressed award two weeks from now. It’s the power of the press in action!

Either that or my standards are slipping.

I struggled to whittle down my list to three before finally deciding I need to raise the bar. Whereas a nicely colored t-shirt might previously have garnered a nomination, this time I’m requiring a complete outfit or look. A pair of boring white shorts won’t cut it. Changing that one rule knocked out most of the competition.

Nominee #1: Frances Tiafoe

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

The crowd-pleasing American loves to flaunt his muscles, and who can blame him? He’s seriously popping out of this eye-popping red Nike tank. Confident, body-conscious, and a little flamboyant, this outfit seems tailor made for Tiafoe.

By the way, it turns out we (or I, anyway) have been pronouncing his name wrong. It’s tee-AH-foe, not TEE-uh-foe. That’s going to take some getting used to.

Nominee #2: Lorenzo Sonego

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Up until now, the lanky Italian has been a player I’ve known by name only. Which is stronger, his forehand or backhand? How’s his net game? What’s his temperament like? While I still can’t answer these questions, I can at least add this appealing Mizuno outfit to my otherwise-empty Sonego file. I like the way the blue and aqua hues play off each other like shades of the sea and how the abstract design extends down the sides of the shorts.

It occurs to me now that maybe the matching shorts strike some men as too feminine. Is this why most of the outfits feature basic solid-color shorts? I think we need some male perspective in the comments section.

Nominee #3: Sebastian Korda

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Although the American’s shorts are basic black, it’s Korda’s overall fashion sense that elevates this look above “nice shirt” status. The buttoned-up pinstriped polo exudes a preppy geek vibe, but Korda gives it a modern, ironic tweak with his black headband. His slim frame provides the perfect hanger for this ensemble. (Imagine this shirt on Tiafoe or Nadal!) (Actually, if someone wants to photoshop that image and send it to me, I’d happily post it.)

Interestingly, the other Adidas-sponsored men, like Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stefanos Tsitsipas, are sporting an altogether different look:

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Judging by his expression, I’d say FAA agrees that Korda ended up with the better kit. What do you think? Give your two cents in the second poll.