What the deuce is she wearing? Bethanie Mattek-Sands plays at Wimbledon in another Lady Gaga-inspired outfit

By EMILY ANDREWS and GABBY MORGAN

Ball girl: Bethanie Mattek-Sands wears an unusual bespoke outfit for her first match at Wimbledon today


A quick glance and you might have mistaken her for some sort of quirky pop star.

Not for nothing is Bethanie Mattek-Sands known as the Lady Gaga of tennis.

The American baffled fans as she stepped out on court yesterday in war paint and a white bomber jacket decorated with spray-painted white tennis balls chopped in half.

And when she removed her coat, the white dress she had on underneath appeared to have lost a sleeve.


All white? The white fringed jacket was created by Lady Gaga's own fashion designers


The outfit complemented an armful of colourful tattoos, socks pulled up to the knees and the face paint. The 26-year-old claimed that was actually a couple of anti-glare patches.

Miss Mattek-Sands had already turned heads with an equally bizarre tennis ball outfit at a pre-Wimbledon party last week, which was designed by one of Lady Gaga's own dressers.


Ball-girl: Mattek-Sands arrives for her match against Japan's Misaki Doi


British designer Alex Noble had again been commissioned for yesterday's outfit.

Unfortunately for Miss Mattek-Sands, it failed to inspire her to victory.

Despite going into the match as the firm favourite and 30th seed, she lost in three sets to Japan's Misaki Doi. And her decorum appeared to desert her as she refused to shake the umpire's hand at the end.

The tongue-in-cheek number is just another example of how players are working around the rules to make fashion more prominent on court.


Skin art: The tennis player shows off her tattoos in a one-shouldered top


On Monday, Venus Williams wore a Greek-inspired romper suit by her own brand Eleven. And high-end label Ralph Lauren have designed new uniforms for the ball-boys.

Mattek-Sands said last month: 'I don't think I can really challenge the colour rule right now. You know, I got to figure something out. Obviously the white, you got to work with a lot of the cuts.

'Obviously I'll be wearing my high socks. But yeah, it's always challenging to think of new things for Wimbledon.


When fashion meets function: Serena, left, and Venus Williams are trendy sisters at the tournament

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The passing-out ball: End-of-year celebrations prove a little TOO much for some Cambridge students

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON

The morning after: Walking seems to have got too much for the girl in the red dress, while the chap on the right seems to be feeling a little warm after a night of partying


They've finished their exams, they're about to venture into the big wide world, and they've just spent hundreds on the hottest night in town.

So no wonder it all proved a bit too much for some Cambridge University students, staggering home after partying all night to celebrate the end of term.

Even at £200 for a couple, and on top of the cost of a new ball gown and tails, revellers at the Trinity May Ball were far from reserved - perhaps savouring their final carefree days of student life.

Bleary-eyed after a night of partying, as the sun rose the youngsters carried on the celebration with drunken punt rides on the River Cam or breakfast in college gardens.


Relaxed: As the sun rose, students who had paced themselves continued to drink bubbly as the sun rose


The ball is a tradition dating back 145 years that is among the largest events in the Cambridge student social calendar and is as famous for the morning after events as the big night itself.

After dinner and dancing the night of official events was brought to a close with a spectacular fireworks display, but for some it was a sign that the night was still young.


The morning after the night before: These students look like they're up for continuing for some time with two bottles of Pimms


One guest said: 'The champagne was flowing, but if you want to be among the survivors the next day, you learn to pace yourself.'

The Trinity May Ball is normally held on the first Monday of May Week - the traditional end of term at Cambridge University.

This year, however, it took place in June and is one of a series of balls taking place across the campus.

The ball has continued every year since 1866 and has only had two breaks. Once in 1910 when King Edward VII died and again during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.


Class, style and some high jinx: One couple looks like they've stepped out of a Dickens novel as they make their way home while another share a laugh with friends


The only trouble that was reported in the town was three calls from residents who complained to Cambridge City Council over excess noise.

Robert Osbourn, the council's environmental protection team leader, told the Cambridge News that some complaints were inevitable.

He said: 'You are never going to be able to guarantee that nobody hears anything.'

The students also do their bit for charity. With 17 balls and major events being held in Cambridge this academic year, the total funds from all college May Balls is likely to reach tens of thousands of pounds.


Having a punt: These party goers decide to have a more leisurely ride along the River Cam with cups of coffee


Home time: Students file out of the Trinity May Ball in an orderly manner


Friendships made: Students lie on the lawns in front of King's College as the sun rises over the spires of Cambridge


Glamour: A group of women look as splendid as they did the night before as they set off home in their ball gowns


It's a busy day for punters in Cambridge with hundreds of students to transport along the Cam


source :dailymail

A comfortable victory: Tennis player who had breast reduction to ease back pain enjoys win in first round at Wimbledon

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Simona Halep, who had breast reduction surgery to help her game, comfortably won her first round match against Bojana Jovanovski


At the age of 17, Simona Halep decided that nothing would stand in the way of her ambition to make it to the top in tennis. And that included her generous curves.

She underwent extensive breast reduction surgery to take her from a 34DD to a more modest 34C and as a result rocketed up 450 places in the world rankings.

Two years on, she breezed through her first-round match yesterday and said she was looking forward to a ‘successful Wimbledon’.


Before and after: In 2008 at the French Open girls' singles, left, and today at Wimbledon, right


When she burst on to the scene as a junior champion at the French Open in 2008, Miss Halep’s bountiful chest attracted lots of attention and a growing male fan base.

But she found it was uncomfortable, caused her severe back pain and hampered her movement on court, leaving her ranked 500 in the world.

Following the operation, the Romanian teenager spent several months resting before resuming her career last summer.

She had revealed her decision to fans before going under the knife – and many (presumably male) petitioned her in an attempt to persuade her to reconsider.


Serena Williams was on Centre court as she began her bid for a fifth Wimbledon crown against Aravane Rezai


Serena Williams was overcome with emotion at the end of her match against France's Aravane Rezai, having endured one of the toughest years of her career since she last played in SW19


Diana Ross was there to watch Serena Williams on Centre Court, and found herself surrounded by members of the England cricket team


Celebrating their own victory: Fresh from beating Sri Lanka in the test series, England cricketers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss enjoy a drink with other team members


But she said her mind was made up.

‘My ability to react quickly was worse and my breasts made me uncomfortable.’
Her large chest guaranteed her attention - and won her a few male admirers - but for Romanian tennis hopeful Simona Halep it was a hindrance.

The extra weight on her chest was uncomfortable and caused severe back pain, which affected her performance on the court - so she decided to have breast-reduction surgery.

And the 19-year-old Romanian today continued to reap the rewards of her decision with a comfortable victory against her Serbian opponent, Bojana Jovanovski, 19, winning 6-1 6-2.

Halep was first noticed on her way to becoming junior champion at the French Open in 2008. In a bid to boost her game, she spent much of the following year recovering from the surgery, which took her cup size down from 34DD to a more modest 34C.


Vitalia Diatchenko displays her power on her way to defeat at the hands of 25th seed Daniela Hantuchova


Currently ranked 58 in the world, she is playing in her first Wimbledon.

At the time she explained her decision to fans, saying: 'It’s the weight that troubles me. My ability to react quickly, my breasts make me uncomfortable when I play.

'I don’t like them in my everyday life, either. I would have gone for surgery even if I hadn’t been a sportswoman.'

Another player who was attracting much attention today was Serena Williams as she began her attempt to claim a fifth Wimbledon title - and third in a row - despite barely lifting a racquet in anger in the past year.

And she overcame a second-set blip to beat Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai 6-3 3-6 6-1.

Afterwards she burst into tears oivercome with emotion as she tried to put behind her one of the toughest years of her career

Williams fought through a mid-match slump, re-establishing her authority in the third set with her big serve and powerful groundstrokes.


Tennis fans wait in a queue hoping for better weather45 than disrupted yesterday's play



The sun broke through early in the day, giving the fans something to smile about


She showed why she is still considered a title favourite despite her long layoff after two foot operations and blood clots on her lungs.

After serving her 13th ace to close out the match, Williams buried her face in her towel and sobbed as she sat on her courtside chair. She was still crying as she walked off the court.

Meanwhile, with Andy Murray safely through in the men's draw, all eyes were on the all-British match between Anne Keothavong and Naomi Broady, which British number 3 Keothavong comfortably won 6-2 6-4.

The day started with organisers having to try and clear a heavy backlog of play after rain wiped out hours of tennis on the opening day.

It may only be day two of the tournament but torrential downpours yesterday meant a series of games were suspended and others did not even begin.

But despite the weather, fans were warned about sunstroke today after 85 people were treated at Wimbledon yesterday despite some of the heaviest rain in years.


Anne Keothavong shakes hands with Naomi Broady of after winning their first round all-British affair


American star Andy Roddick was watched by his wife Brooklyn Decker during his first round match


Slovakia's Karol Beck and Argentina's Carlos Berlocq play out their game under blue skies, in stark contrast to the torrential rain of yesterday evening


The bad weather meant the roof was closed for Murray's match, which did not start until 6.30pm yesterday evening



Bags of support: Murray's kitbag with the messages from fans


Supporters entered an online competition to have their messages displayed on Murray's bag


Early on in the game it was hard watching for his mother Judy and girlfriend Kim Sears


At full stretch: Murray lost the first sense but once his game clicked into gear he completed a comfortable victory


Andy Murray acknowledges the Centre Court crowd carrying the bag with messages of support


John Isner poses after finally claiming victory on the third day of his first round match against Nicolas Mahut


Serena vs Rezai at 2011 Wimbledon


2011 Wimbledon Roger Federer Signed Patiently for Fans Before R1 Match


Roddick vs. Beck - Wimbledon 2011 R1 Highlights


source : dailymail

Tears of 'back from the dead, Serena': Williams breaks down after opening victory at Wimbledon

By EMILY ANDREWS and PAUL HARRIS

Overcome: Serena Williams showed her emotions today after he first round victory by burying her head in a towel before openly crying as she left Centre Court


It's not the image that most people would associate with the so-called Queen of Mean.

Serena Williams – one of the toughest players on the tennis circuit – won her first-round match, sat on her chair … and then dissolved into tears.

Such a display might have been expected from a novice winning her first match at Wimbledon – rather than the defending champion who has won the title four times.



All too much: Miss Williams was upset because she has been out of the game for year following a severe foot injury and suffering from blood clots on her lungs


But as the 29-year-old explained later, emotion overwhelmed her because yesterday was a day she feared she would never see after a year in which her life – let alone her sporting career – almost came to an end.

The American has been absent from tennis for 49 weeks after suffering serious foot injuries in an accident, then life-threatening blood clots on her lungs. ‘It definitely hit me at the end of the match,’ she said. ‘I’m not a crier, so I don’t know.

‘It definitely was so emotional for me because throughout the last 12 months, I’ve been through a lot of things that’s not normal. So it’s just been a long, arduous road. To stand up still is pretty awesome.


Watching on: The large crowd sees Serena rifle down another serve during the match


‘So this was probably the most emotional I’ve gotten after a match, after a win.’ By the standards of some of her previous outfits, Miss Williams was dressed relatively soberly in a white tennis dress with navy piping, matched by a classic cable-knit cardigan – although her hot pants were black.

She added: ‘It wasn’t about winning the match. It was about being out there. Everyone that has had some troubles, whether it be health, whether it be something else, to realise that you can do it. But it just really goes to show if you don’t give up, you still have a chance.’


Hand raised in victory: Serena forces a smile seconds after confirming her win and before the emotion got too much


Within days of claiming her 13th Grand Slam title at the All England Club last summer, Miss Williams’s feet were cut by glass as she left a restaurant in Munich, wearing sandals.

Then in March she had trouble breathing and was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.


She revealed: ‘I was on my death bed at one point – quite literally. It got to the stage where it felt like I could hardly breathe. Some days I didn’t get out of bed at all. I just laid on a couch thinking, why has this happened to me?

‘At first people said it would be fine, it would be all right but it turned out to be a lot more serious. If it had been left two days later it could have been career-ending – or even worse. They told me I had several blood clots in both lungs. A lot of people die from that.’


In action: Serena Williams plays a forehand during her two sets to one victory over French player Aravane Rezai



Knocked out: Aravane Rezai reaches for a shot during the defeat to Williams on Wimbledon's Centre Court


Floored Serena Williams makes winning lob



source: dailymail

Wellies and winter coats will be order of the day as weather looks grim for Glastonbury

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Wet, wet, wet: Festival goers arriving at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning


Thousands of revellers sporting wellington boots and winter coats are beginning to arrive in Somerset as the Glastonbury Festival gets under way.

Rain-hardy revellers battled through the drizzle and mud to get to the campsites on 900-acre Worthy Farm for the start of Britain's biggest and best-loved music festival.

But the heavy rain and soft, marshy ground did little to dampen the spirits of those attending as they manfully battled through the elements.


Emergency supplies: A box full of cans of beer stands in the mud this morning


You've got to laugh: Hayley Davenport manages to keep a smile on her face as she carries her guitar through the mud. Left, another festival fan is more than prepared for the expected wet weather


More than 177,000 people are expected to attend the festival in Pilton to see the likes of U2, Beyonce and Coldplay perform.

Unlike last year's sun-drenched festival, music fans have packed woolly jumpers, waterproofs and wellies as they brace themselves for autumnal temperatures and regular downpours.


Barefoot bravery: Katie Featherstone and Lucy Loretto arrive in the mud clutching their festival gear


Nearly all donned their wet weather gear as as the damp conditions threatened to cause a repeat of the 2007 mudfest.

Weather experts even warned revellers making their way to the annual bash that they may need to brace themselves - for hail.

Met Office forecaster George Goodfellow said: 'The weather for the period of Glastonbury Festival is looking very unsettled but we could see the most intense showers on Thursday.

'When we get these intense showers at this time of the year we can see hail, which is a possibility for Glastonbury.'



Carefree: A festival goer laughs as he arrives at the Glastonbury Festival site with a dirty face - and the fun hasn't even begun


The Met Office has also warned night temperatures will drop to as low as six degrees - while heavy rain is already turning the 1,100 acre site into a mud bath.

A spokesman said: 'It's not going to be a typically wet Glastonbury but it won't be like last year's either.

'We're expecting some heavy showers for the first two days but it will gradually improve and while Sunday won't be that bright it could be quite warm.'


Determined: Two festival goers have a steely look on their faces as they battle through the wind and mud


But the weather is unlikely to put off excited festival-goers who will turn Worthy Farm into the south-west's third largest city after Bristol and Plymouth.

James Beal, 25, from Bristol, is making his fourth trip to Glastonbury and spent last year's festival basking in the heat wave.

He said: 'This year's event will be brilliant, regardless of whether it's wet and windy or sunny and bright.

'I think it's impossible for the weather to put me off, I'm here for the music and the atmosphere.

'I can't wait to see Beyonce; I hope Jay-Z makes a guest appearance - that would be amazing.'


Some revellers will be enjoying the festival fun in rather more luxurious surroundings than others, however.

Popping up next to the Glastonbury Festival is the latest venture in posh camping - deluxe tents which cost up to £1500 for the weekend.

Festival-goers with fat enough wallets can spend the weekend in safari-style bell tents with double beds, valet parking, wooden deck flooring and hot showers in an upmarket encampment just outside the festival.

And for those who need a pick me up after a hard night's raving, the so-called pop-up hotel offers full English breakfasts to guests.


Missing the point? The luxury on offer at the Pop-Up Hotel just outside the festival site


Event organisers are employing around 1,600 staff to look after the event, which is now in its 40th year.

Thousands of acts from local unsigned bands to the world's biggest rock stars will be appearing on stage over the five-day festival.

Taking centre stage on the famous Pyramid this year are U2, Coldplay and Beyonce while Morrissey, Primal Scream and Tinie Tempah are also expected to draw huge crowds.

Lesser known acts will perform on the 100 other stages and performance areas.


Wet weather gear: In scenes that could be repeated this year, a discarded pair of wellies lie at the exit of Glasto' 2009


Compare and contrast: Brollies provided a different kind of protection for last year's festival as sunshine beat down on gig-goers


Festival organisers are dedicating six per cent of the event's revenue this year to keeping the place clean and tidy.

The site will have 20,000 rubbish bins colour-coded for recycling, enabling the festival to recycle more 400 tonnes of waste.

This is being co-ordinated by 160 'green police' who patrol the vast site ensuring people don't drop litter or urinate in the stream.

A team of 950 people will clean up rubbish every morning and ensure the 4,600 toilets are acceptable to use.


How to walk onto the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2011


A drive around Glastonbury Festival Site 18/06/11



source : dailymail