New York and fashion go hand in hand, and tennis outfits are no exception, especially when we have a high-profile event such as the US Open. So let's see what the manufacturers of tennis clothes prepared for our WTA stars and there is no better way to start than with American Bethanie Mattek Sands who integrated patriotism in her attire.

Don't you love the American-flag tube socks and the accompanying red shoes? Bethanie looks awesome in her Under Armour outfit with accessories that perfectly match the US Open occasion.

Bethanie is known for her experiments with fashion and her most recent took place before and during Wimbledon, when she incorporated tennis balls in her player party and on-court outfits.

Venus Williams shocked with her EleVen US Open dress as much as she did with her subsequent abrupt withdrawal due to a long-undiagnosed syndrome.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and Stella McCartney absolutely failed to inspire with a white dress much more suitable for Wimbledon. Why not use colors for the US Open when you can?

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Venus Williams shocked the tennis world when she abruptly withdrew from the US Open prior to her second round match against Sabine Lisicki. Media were first reporting the reason was an unspecified illness and soon it was defined as Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder which had been bothering the tennis champion for quite some time but has been diagnosed only recently, when more symptoms occurred.

I had swelling and numbness and fatigue, which was really debilitating. I just didn't have any energy. And it's not that you don't have energy — you just feel beat up.

The 31-year-old Williams said she "absolutely" plans to play tennis again, even though there is no cure for her health problem.

Sjogren's is something you live with your whole life. The good news for me is now I know what's happening after spending years not knowing… I feel like I can get better and move on.

(source: Australian Open, photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Venus Williams denied the US Open spectators a thrilling second round match against Sabine Lisicki by pulling out with an unspecified illness which was later defined as an autoimmune disease, more specifically - Sjogren’s Syndrome, which affects energy level, causes fatigue and joint pain.

I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue, but right now I am unable to. I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.

The final Grand Slam of the season was Williams' only fourth tournament of the season. On top of that, she has now left two of the four with a retirement.  Read more »

Venus Williams is still coming up with, hm, questionable designs for her tennis outfits and she's still a fan of lace and zippers, this time combined. In her 6-4 6-3 victory over Vesna Dolonts in the first round of the US Open, Venus sported a black dress which looks cute in the front, but when Venus turns her back your eyes pop out.

The black dress has a white lace in the back adorned by a pink zipper!

At Wimbledon, the last tournament Williams played before the US Open, the American fashion designer and tennis champion sported what we called a zipper jumper outfit, and last year at the French Open she worked a lace dress with a nude color shorts which grabbed all the attention.

Because of a viral illness Williams returned to full practicing only last week. Actually, the US Open is only her fourth tournament this season, after the Australian Open, Eastbourne and Wimbledon. (photos: Rob Loud/usopen.org and via Down the Line)

The WTA has added new imagery to their "Strong is Beautiful" campaign, under the title "Active Legends".

Along will players whose faces are not commonly exploited in the WTA marketing, Serena Williams was featured when the campaign launched in May. Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova are now part of the campaign for the first time. Read more »