Tennis attire sure has changed at U.S. Open

Comparisons of incomparable eras cannot be avoided in sports. Even in tennis, which likely has experienced a more distorting degree of change than any other athletic endeavor over time -- in the technology of rackets and strings and the evolution in balls and surfaces. And, no less dramatically, attire.

During the two-week U.S. Open, an International Tennis Hall of Fame exhibit on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds features photos of champions from a century ago, decked out in competitive wear more reminiscent of a Great Gatsby party than a center-court duel.

The men are in flannel trousers, long-sleeved dress shirts and neckties. The women, also in neckties, sport ankle-length dresses and small heels.

"We used to play three-out-of-five sets in the beginning, the 1880s," Billie Jean King said of the women's game. "And then one woman fainted. And the committee said we were going to two out of three.

"I'm sure she fainted because she was dehydrated. She was wearing a corset. Couldn't breathe."

By the time King came along, winning 12 major tournaments in the 1960s and '70s, the tennis dress code had ceased to be so restrictive -- "Fashion equals freedom," King said -- though the metamorphosis toward professionalism and the leap in racket science continued to render cross-generational analogies almost silly.

Still, a yearning to put everyone in a time machine goes on. During this Open, several players have been asked: If they could arrange it, who in all of tennis history would they most like to play?

Big-serving, 6-9 John Isner chose eight-time major tournament winner Andre Agassi, who is a mere 5-11. "Because we play differently," Isner said. "He arguably had the greatest return of all time and I serve pretty well, so I think that would be fun. I'd try not to let him touch [a serve]."

For veteran James Blake, mixing it up with the late Arthur Ashe, three times a major tournament winner, would have been his ideal. "He was one of my idols," Blake said, "and a great role model in terms of sportsmanship. I enjoy playing someone where you know everything is going to be on the up and up."

In 1983, a California pro named Trey Waltke turned back the clock by donning 1920s-era long flannel pants and long-sleeved, white button-down shirt for a Wimbledon match against former tournament champion Stan Smith. And won. (Waltke was a solid enough player to have beaten John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, as well, though he mostly is remembered for the long pants.)

Doubles specialist Bob Bryan guesses that it would "probably be a little warmer" playing in the 19th century duds against champion dudes of the time, "but I'm sure [Novak] Djokovic would have his way with one of those guys."

Better, most agree, to stay in the here and now. Compared with the turn-of-the-20th century Annie Hall look, said Ana Ivanovic, an Open quarterfinalist against Serena Williams Wednesday: "I must say, I think this is a little more comfortable. I think we would be twisting our ankles in heels. It just shows how the game has evolved."

If it were possible to take Williams back 100 years, though, "She'd still be better than the others," King said. "They'd all be in corsets and neckties."