Don't miss any stories Follow Tennis View

Wimbledon 2017: Best Dressed at WTA's Pre-Wimbledon Party

Jul 1st 2017

The 2017 Wimbledon draw is set and WTA Tour players have first-round opponents to think about. However, Thursday night was all about high fashion at the Pre-Wimbledon Party.

Prior to the party, the WTA posted a poll on its website for best-dressed over the years. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Simona Halep were on that list. None of those players walked the purple carpet this year. 

With the game's frontline fashionistas sidelined or late on arrival, the WTA's answer to the Oscar's red carpet lacked vivacity present at year's past. There was no Sharapova emerging from a Porsche or Serena arriving fashionably late. Still, most players worked the pre-party walk with flair.

Pleasant Surprises

Japan's Naomi Osaka sometimes comes across as shy and a tad bit awkward. That was not the case at this year's pre-Wimbledon party. The 19-year-old wowed with a flirty seersucker off-the-shoulder dress. She looked sweet, sexy and adorable.

Naomi Osaka

Rising American teen CiCi Bellis will be making her Wimbledon debut and looked all grown up on the purple carpet. The 18-year-old shed her grade-school girlie image and went for a stunning short fitted dress and strappy stilettoes.

CiCi Bellis

Standard Bearers

Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic's ranking has slipped to No. 66 but her fashion sense remains sky high. The 32-year-old Serbian wore a playful pastel green silk ruffle dress paired with red Christian Louboutin heels.

Jelena Jankovic

Dominika Cibulkova stood out in a sleek one-shoulder black dress.

Dominika Cibulkova

Blue Belles

Victoria Azarenka looked like a little princess from the prairie in a darling blue Azaelea Dress by Self Portrait. Azarenka wore her hair braided on the top, the perfect hair-do for this fun, light airy sundress. The intricate lattice trim with sand tulle lining gives the illusion of a see-through dress. But like on the tennis court, Azarenka has everything covered. 

Victoria Azarenka

Madison Keys also wore a sheer baby blue Self Portrait dress with spaghetti straps and sheer trim.

Madison Keys

Shimmer Winners

Donna Vekic arrived at the party wearing a bedazzled pale-yellow dress and a three-time Grand Slam champion on her arm. Accompanied by boyfriend Stan Wawrinka, the 21-year-old Vekic channeled the roaring 20s in a flirty flapper-inspired mini dress with silver tassels. 

Donna Vekic

Fresh into the WTA's Top Five, Elina Svitolina sparkled in a silver sequined dress with a black lace him that covered her knees.

Elina Svitolina

Unforced Errors

There were a few mishits and puzzling outfits, like Garbine Muguruza's matador style kit and Petra Kvitova's space-age galactic silver maxi dress.

Garbine Muguruza

It was hard to find Sloane Stephens who was swallowed up by a dress roomy enough for Serena's seven months pregnant belly.

Overall, the ladies looked lovely and seemed to enjoy the garden-style affair and all the pre-tournament pampering.