Sharapova, Osaka and Raducanu dazzle at Met Gala

NEW YORK: WTA champions of the past, present, and future hit the red carpet at the annual Met Gala in New York City on Monday.

Serenawilliams,naomiosaka,mariasharapova, Venus Williams, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu and finalist Leylah Fernandez were all in atendance at the annual fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City.

Chaired by Vogue editor-in-chief and tennis fan Anna Wintour, the event has always had strong ties to tennis. Ajla Tomljanovic and Wimbledon finalist Mateo Berretini, as well as US Open semifinalist Felix Auger Alliasime were also in atendance on Monday night. For this year’s gala, World No.3 Osaka was appointed co-chair along with actor Timothee Chalamet, musician Billie Eilish, and poet Amanda Gorman. Ater a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Met Gala returned with a theme honoring American fashion.

Russell Westbrook wasn’t the only NBA luminary — there was Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha. Gymnasts were in the house, too: Simone Biles made a memorable entrance in an 88-pound embroidered gown with a huge train carried up the museum steps by six men. And Nia Dennis did an actual gymnastic routine, to music from the Brooklyn United Marching Band.

But then, the museum was filled with screen and TV stars, too, and musicians, and luminaries of business and politics. In fact, an evening that had been casually billed as a “mini” gala - with the full-size gala to return in May - hardly felt “mini” at all, with 400 guests instead of the usual 550 or so. The cocktail reception seemed as packed as always, the mingling just as energetic.

Also as energetic: the atention from the crowds outside, packed behind barricades across Fith Avenue and a block away on Madison, too, several rows deep. At one point, fans had also swarmed outside the Petrie Court’s full-length windows, hoping for a glimpse and a photo.

Still, there were reminders that this was no ordinary gala. The most obvious were masks, though few wore them during cocktails. (Guests had been reminded beforehand that masks were required, unless eating or drinking.) Participants were also required to provide proof of vaccination, and to take a rapid PCR test, administered by the museum either the day before or the day of the gala.