Tomas Berdych's shoes have the tennis world talking

An image of Serbia's Novak Djokovic can be seen on the tongue of the shoes of Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych. Photo / AP

Fashion choices tend to dominate the headlines at Wimbledon as often as the actual tennis does.

The proof is in the pudding. This year we've had officials force players in the boys junior tournament to change their underwear after some below-the-belt violations of the rule that stipulates players must wear predominantly white attire at the All England Club.

And in the opening week Venus Williams had to change from a pink bra into a white one to comply with the regulation.

But for once it's not the colour of a competitor's clothes causing all the kerfuffle in south London. Feet rarely attract so much attention, but Tomas Berdych ensured that changed on the hallowed grass courts at the year's third major.

Eagle-eyed viewers noticed the Czech has been wearing Novak Djokovic's shoes with his face on the tongue. The Serb has been giving him not so much a helping hand but a helping foot.

When asked for the second time at the same press conference why he was wearing shoes with his rival's face on them, Berdych said other models don't fit but Djokovic's "are fitting well and they don't hurt my feet".

Pretty logical response, really.

He's actually been wearing Djokovic's line of Adidas shoes since earlier in the year, but having Novak's face on them at Wimbledon has made the fact much more prominent.

The new footwear obviously did its job as the 31-year-old moved well to make the semi-finals of this year's tournament. But even with Djokovic's help, Berdych was no match for Roger Federer, the Swiss advancing to the final with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win as the pair played off for a spot in the final against Marin Cilic.