AUSTRALIAN OPEN ISLAND - Late on Thursday evening SLT, the Australian Open tennis sponsor, IBM, announced the winners of its ‘Couture on the Court’ competition.

Betty Doyle of Ingenue hit the sweet spot with her design, which she dubbed Darling of the Court, and took home the $250,000L first place prize. IBM awarded prizes to the top ten contestants. They are: 2nd Place - Marios Zisky; 3rd place- Dakota Buck; 4th place - Samantha Montagne; 5th place - Ivey Deschanel; 6th place - Keenty Whippet; 7th place - KiN Raymaker; and tying for 8th place - Abby Coalcliff, Marylou Lane, and Sioxie Legend.

The contest asked a simple question: “Who Can Create the Best tennis outfit in the Second Life virtual world?” Some of Second Life’s best clothing designers provided their answer with fanciful interpretations of tennis wear.

Residents of Second Life then had the opportunity to vote for their favorites at the virtual tennis stadium on Australian Open Island. IBM restricted voting to SL residents with rez days before January 8, and each avatar was only permitted to vote once.

Winner Betty Doyle used traditional tennis white and added a nautical flair to it, using a high waist, tiered skirt and sailor style half shirt all trimmed in navy blue.

Second place vote getter, Marios Zisky, designed a men’s outfit – standing out in the crowd of feminine designs. Marios’ men’s outfit also used white with blue accents for his smart collared shirt and drawstring waist shorts. He claims the $100,000L second prize as a reward.

Other designers went bold, including 8th place vote getters Abby Coalcliff, who entered a bright green wrap tennis dress, and Sioxie Legend, who used animal prints. Third place winner Dakota Buck entered a grass green tennis dress. Fifth place vote getter Ivy Deschanel used white and gold printed fabric in her interpretation, while 4th place Samantha Montagne added a handy pocket to the front of her tennis top.

SLNN asks: where did the designers get the adorable tennis shoes that were featured with their designs?