MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—After reaching her first Grand Slam final, the big question for Bethanie Mattek-Sands is what to wear for the occasion?
The 26-year-old American, known for her sometimes outlandish fashion sense, and Romanian partner Horia Tecau advanced to the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open on Friday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi of India.
They'll play the winner of the other semifinal between Roberta Vinci and Daniele Bracciali of Italy and Elena Vesnina of Russia and Leander Paes of India, which was being contested later Friday.
Tecau has been in this situation before - he's reached the men's doubles final at Wimbledon the last two years, losing both times. For Mattek-Sands, it'll be her first Grand Slam final of any kind.
``It's a huge one, obviously, being in any slam final no matter what one it is,'' she said.
Mattek-Sands has made a statement with her outfits at many Grand Slams in the past. Last year, she wore a Lady Gaga-esque white jacket decorated with real tennis balls on court for her first-round match at Wimbledon. She once wore a scandalous, low-cut leopard-print number at the U.S. Open, complete with a leopard-print visor.
She already has some ideas if she makes the U.S. team for the London Olympics, too. ``I wanted to do some gold, either get a gold racket or gold shoes or something,'' she said.
So what's she got planned for Sunday's mixed doubles final?
Actually I might go shopping,'' she said with a laugh.It's tough when you pack. I can only pack so much. I'm already over all my baggage limits.''