Don’t have the game (or gams) of Maria Sharapova? No problem. You can still dress like her -or Jennifer Capriati or Justine Henin-Hardenne. Many of the female players at next week’s US Open will be wearing apparel that’s on the shelves at department and athletic stores.

Nike has provided Ms. Sharapova with a Sphere Shine tennis dress in grey. The dynamic lines suggest the famous Nike “swoosh” (the same style is for sale at Niketown). Made of Sphere-Dry and Dri-Fit fabrics that provide maximum breathability, the dress also has little “origami” cutouts on the sides that let a little breeze flow.

Lindsay Davenport and Amelie Mauresmo also choose their on-court looks from Nike’s high-performance retail lines. Serena Williams, though, has worked with Nike on something that’s more in keeping with her aggressive style – reportedly a high-performance denim skirt and black slip-on boots that fit over sneakers. Venus Williams has a long-standing relationship with Reebok, but is no longer under contract with the brand. So her competition duds can be designed by anyone – even herself.

Justine Henin-Hardenne – the current no. 1 player on the women’s tour – has design input on the gear that Adidas creates for its competition collection. According to a spokesman for the company, Ms. Henin-Hardenne prefers skirts, not shorts, and shirts with sleeves – no tank tops. “She really prefers to have at least a cap sleeve,” said Adidas spokesman Matt Martell.

And when you’re number one, you get what you want.

Among the clothing provided to her is a fitted white polo with the three signature Adidas stripes down the front. The fabric is a blend of polyester and spandex known as “ClimaCool,” which allows for ventilation and moisture removal. Also on the shirt are mesh inserts and an entire back made of mesh – for those sweaty August days.

Ms. Henin-Hardenne will choose between a white and turquoise skirt with the three Adidas stripes down the front. Also made of ClimaCool, the skirt has a flat, elastic waistband that prevents the fabric from pinching the skin. As any girl should, she’s got shoes to match: Barricade III sneakers with just a touch of turquoise. And it’s all for sale at the retail chain Tennis Professionals.

Things are even more colorful at Fila, which sponsors Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijsters. Mod styles from the 1960s and 1970s inspired Fila’s high-performance collection for the US Open. Ms. Capriati and Ms. Clijsters will have two color palettes to choose form: groovy pink and white stripes on black fabric or the more traditional white, red, and navy. You can purchase the same looks at Bloomingdale’s.

Fila also designs the uniforms for the on-court staff of the US Open (available at the retail kiosks on the grounds). So if you want to strut around like a ball person, you can make that happen, too.

All four Grand Slam tournaments follow the same rule book – which calls for “clean and customarily acceptable tennis attire.” But what passes as “customar ily acceptable” is a matter for each tournament. Some of the get-ups the female athletes display wouldn’t make it at Wimbledon.

“We adhere to the rule book,” said USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier. “However, we recognize that we are the biggest stage in the sport. Players have the ability to express themselves not only in their play, but in their attire. You have the New York stage, which adds its own energy and dimension.”

Will we be seeing anything that’s not “customarily acceptable” on court? Well, no one wants another Tommy Haas incident. At the 2002 US Open, Mr. Haas wore a sleeveless shirt, which at the time was not customary for male players. The referee requested that he change his shirt, which broke not a few hearts.

But the story has a happy ending: the men’s tour reconsidered its rules and now allows them to show off their brawny arms. A little more skin never hurt – at least on style points.

RODDICKWEAR

Get ready to see a lot more of Andy Roddick. This week, Reebok is rolling out a new clothing line – Rbk Crew – designed and inspired by the hunky defending champ. To promote it, the company is painting the Big Apple with billboards featuring the baby-faced pro.

As for the clothes (available at the Reebok store and Macy’s), Rbk Crew includes a competitive apparel line made of Reebok’s PlayDry fabric that the 21-year-old Nebraskan will wear during the US Open. The shirts reflect Mr. Roddick’s powerful style of tennis with a splashy grey camouflage print on a white background. The “board shorts” have a cargo style that works on

and off the court. Reebok will be launching additional pieces around the subsequent Grand Slams, each with a different color palette.

For Mr. Roddick’s footwear, Reebok is bringing back an old-school favorite: The Pump. Though the colors are a little sharper on the new version, the technology in the sneaker is the same as it was in the 1980s – when Michael Chang was wearing them.

In addition to the performance collection, there’s also a casual line of print T-shirts with references to Mr. Roddick’s stomping grounds: Nebraska, Texas, and Florida. A red, faded T-shirt with a cow at the center boasts the logo “Corn Fed Tennis.”

And, of course, there’s something for the ladies. Captivated fans have two sexy choices. There’s a cap-sleeve, fitted version of a baseball shirt emblazoned with the logo “I [heart symbol] Roddick,” and for all those hopefuls out there, a white baby tee with the name “Mrs. Roddick” in a cursive 1970s style logo.

In regard to such personalized fandom tees, Mr. Roddick said at a press conference: “Reebok and I thought that was missing in tennis.”

A playa’s gotta play.

TIGRE BEAT

For the best freebies at the U.S. Open, keep your eyes peeled for the crew from Le Tigre. The 1980s sportswear brand is making a Capriati-sized comeback – and to get the tiger-logoed shirts on the right backs, the company is giving away tons of free merchandise. On September 9, 10, and 11, a team of 40 Le Tigre representatives will roam the ground handing out free polo shirts, wristbands, and tiger tattoos for the kiddies.

Le Tigre hit its zenith of popularity in the 1980s, when the likes of Ronald Reagan and Wilt Chamberlain were photographed in the snazzy shirts. The brand faded away in the early 1990s, but Le Tigre’s CEO, Ryan O’Sullivan, and his partner – two ex-Wall Streeters who loved their old Le Tigre duds – brought it back in 2003.The brand officially had a full relaunch in April 2004.

According to Mr. O’Sullivan, the U.S. Open is the best place to be for the re-emerging sportswear brand. “Our age range is anywhere from16 to 45,” he said. “We have one-third remembrance buyers and two-thirds new buyers. Any way you slice it, the spectators for tennis fall into that range.”

In the spring of 2005, Le Tigre will introduce an athletic line for golf and tennis. Meanwhile, it will continue to add to its casual sportswear, which is available at national retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Urban Outfitters, as well as specialty department stores like Fred Segal.