Going Gaga! Mattek-Sands revels as rock star of tennis

Bethanie Mattek-Sands is known for her knee-high football socks, fashion statements, dyed hair and colourful tattoos, with the American revelling in being known as the tennis world's "Lady Gaga".

The brash 33-year-old is still battling back to full fitness after suffering an horrific broken knee cap at Wimbledon in 2017, and was beaten in the first round at the Australian Open.

But she remains positive and launched her own fashion brand in Melbourne this week -- "Love Down Under".

"Fashion is fun for me. I love interesting design too; I'm renovating a house, so I'm kind of an artist at heart," she said in a column for the Players Voice website.

"It's what I take on the court with me. I'm original, fun, and always myself."
"I like both names! I feel like I add a little bit of funk and uniqueness and originality to the tour."
"I had coloured hair. I wore different outfits. I guess I've always been a bit of a rebel. It's my personality. It's how I would be if I didn't play tennis, it's how I am off the court."