A Dozen Tennis Obsessives on Their Favorite Gear and Apparel

“These are the Ford F-150 of tennis shorts,” says Park. “The inseam is just right. Not too high, not too low. I’ve also never had an issue with fabric clinging due to moisture during high-intensity matches. I’ve tried other brands and more high-performance offerings but I keep coming back to these.”

David Shaftel, editorial director ofThe Second Serveand its print magazine,Open Tennis,plays at courts all around NYC three or more days a week. “Spence is a new player in on- and off-court tennis apparel, and I’m obsessed with their “SpenceTec” short,” he says. “The fit is perfect. With a scant, 5-inch inseam, they’re on the shorter side, which I like, and a tennis ball fits nicely in the pocket. With a snapanda drawstring they don’t sag, whether or not I have tennis balls or wallet and keys in my pocket. They’re sharp and stylish enough to wear on court or at the barbecue.”

“I immediately fell in love with the weight, fit, and breathability,” says Pillaresetti of the Solotex Mesh Short. “They have replaced all other tennis shorts for me. Some may find them a little heavy for peak NYC summer, but I find the breathability and comfort unrivaled.”

Brooklyn-based writer and editorLiz Kriegerrecommends “theseshorts and only these shorts. The price is sweet, and it has a little shorts liner for tucking balls, as well as pockets and no dumb drawstring.”

[Editor’s note: These shorts are currently sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on theproduct page.]

Skirt loyalist Christie Bonilla, who lives in New York, recommends Wilson’s Midtown Tennis Skirt. “It is the most flattering skirt ever and just the right height.” It comes in more than a dozen colors every season, some with a contrast stripe, and offers a classic pleated look with a wide waistband.

Another “couldn’t-be-more-classic pleated tennis skirt,” recommended by831 Storiesco-founder Erica Cerulo, is this style from Adidas. “I still have mine from high school and it can’t be beat. It is breezier and moves better than the flat-front styles (and is much better for holding balls than a pair of shorts, in my opinion),” says Cerulo.

Los Angeles–basedJoy Cho, the founder and creative director ofOh Joy, brings a “colorful, fun, and feminine” look to the courts and documents her court style at@joyonthecourt. “While not a tennis-specific brand, I find this to be a great all-around skirt that comes in a ton of colors and a range of sizes (up to size 3X),” she says. “The high waist makes it super-flattering, and they likely have sports bras to match if you like to be matchy-matchy.”

“I realize they are silly expensive,” says Bonilla, “but I feel like a bride in Marysia’s tennis dresses, especially this dress. It has a generous built-in bra and is just so pretty.”

Other L.A.-based players, like author and podcast hostDoree Shafrir,creator of the tennis-themed SubstackCourt Date,take sun protection extremely seriously. “I would describe my personal tennis style as ‘beekeeper’ because I prefer to be as covered up from the sun as possible.” For daytime, she prefers a skirt with leggings attached. “People often forget about their legs when they’re putting on sunscreen, so I like to make sure to be completely covered.” She notes that the “drawback of skirts with leggings is that they usually only have one ball pocket, and it’s on the left leg,” which can be tough for lefties like herself.

Shaftel recommends these moisture-wicking shirts. “There are loads of colors so they’re easy to match with pieces from different brands,” he says. “Reigning Champ is great for any kind of athletic basics, whether you shop their whole look or mix and match. Their stuff is high quality and all the details are all thoroughly thought through.”

My own favorite top keeps my arms free, is highly breathable, and requires no tucking in. This shorter version of the Energy Top from Vuori isn’ttoocropped, and is great for layering or for very hot days.

“I love Wilson’s Brami tank,” says Bonilla. “It has a built-in bra that seems to work on many bust sizes and seriously helps with my constant decision-making fatigue (not having to pick out a bra). They have multiple styles, and I like them all.”

Bonilla also recommends this polo style, a versatile top that’s not just for tennis. “The material is right, the shirt length is perfect, but my favorite thing about it is that I feel less like I’m wearing workout clothes before or after tennis when I see my kids’ friends’ parents.”

Sun protection is critical for hours on the court, even if you’re not playing in the California sunshine. And, depending on the direction of the sun when you’re switching sides, you really need some kind of brim to see the ball. I like a breathable nylon hat and am partial to this style from the running company Bandit, which has an interior sweat-absorbing band that’s designed for exercising in and sits just right on my head.

[Editor’s note: This hat is currently sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on theproduct page.]

“While I like to dress colorfully, this one in white goes with everything,” says Cho.

“I love my US Open visors the most,” says Bonilla. “I have a fuchsia-and-white one that my friend snagged for me last summer. I prefer the meshlike performance materials to a cotton blend.”

“I always play with a backwards cap on to keep long hair out of my face,” says Park. Like Bonilla, he prefers a moisture-wicking performance fabric like the one used in this Nike cap.

“I’ve found these mini crew socks from Feetures to be the best in all categories — comfort, support, and sweat-wicking,” says Nicki Sebastian.

While technically designed for runners and cyclists, I’m a big fan of these crew socks from Courier that offer the perfect level of support, especially for a session in the middle of summer. They excel at keeping your feet dry after many miles and are soft and lightweight.

“The Gym Sock pack by Le Bon Shoppe is amazing,” says Libre. The calf-height ribbed socks are “ toothy enough that you don’t feel like you’re sliding around in your shoes, but fitted enough to feel performancelike.”

Park recently made the switch to merino wool socks, “and my feet are so much happier for it,” he says. “They’re significantly more comfortable, more moisture-wicking and last much longer. I love these Smartwool socks. The stripes are a nice vintage-inspired touch.”

“A friend of mine from the Fort Greene courts recommended these socks a few years back, and I’ve become addicted,” says Pillaresetti. “They have great padding and support and have made a noticeable difference in the post-tennis foot and ankle pain.” Shaftel also gave a shout-out to the Thor-lo socks, noting “a more plush athletic sock has never been made.”

“Asics makes the besttennis shoes,” says Park. “Period.” He’s been wearing the Solution Speed line for the last ten years. “They’re lightweight and suit my aggressive all-court style. I feel likeAlex De Minaurwhen I wear them, but let’s ignore that I get gassed after a ten-stroke rally.”

“I don’t love wearing white tennis shoes, but I had to make an exception for the Diadora b.elite Star, which were made in Italy and feature plenty of super soft leathery-looking leather,” says Shaftel. “These also look great — with an aqueous-hued mesh on the upper portion they’re not too white and with the natural-toned leather and a little Italian Flag on the heel, they’re anything but bland. I’m not mad at thematching sockseither,” he says.

Shaftel also recommends this limited-edition shoe for pre and post matches. “This shoe is nuts. Only Brain Dead could bring this much originality and innovation to one of Adidas’ legacy 1970s modes. The shoe, named for the original locale of the US Open, is almost totally reimagined, with ‘fuzzy suede’ on the upper and Brain Dead’s signature huge, visible stitching. They’re much more comfortable than the legacy version, which is quite stiff and cheap-feeling. They come in two fun colorways, and with an alternate pair of super fuzzy shoelaces,” says Shaftel.

I’m a convert to the On Roger Pro2 Shoes, which come from the Swiss brand popularized by Federer. They can be stiffer to break in around the ankles but offer a ton of stability on both hard-court and clay. (I also discovered they offerlast season’s models for a discount, so I got those as a backup pair.)Tennis shoesvary widely in sizing, weight, and width by brand, so if you can, it helps to try them on in-person. I agree with the suggestion from Cerulo to “find a store that carries more than two styles of tennis shoes and actually try them on.” She recommendsPete Carlson’s Golf & Tennisin Palm Desert, California, and another great option isMason’s Tennisin New York.

Shafrir, who plays exclusively on hard courts, is a devotee of the Asics Gel Resolution. “I have narrow feet but I also wear a size 10.5, so it’s difficult to find a pair in the right width that are also big enough,” says Shafrir.

“I like to switch up my tennis shoes a lot, but the one constant is my B.Icon Diadoras,” says Bonilla. “I’m a big mover on the court and I love the way these shoes stabilize my arches. The fact that they have a ton of colors doesn’t hurt either.”

Brooklyn-based filmmaker Eric Lin recommends this Yonex bag that’s “understated while having the room to fit all the gear I needed to haul around.” He carries multiple racquets, including his wife and daughter’s as well as standard accessories like balls and a water bottle.

“I don’t have a Wilson racquet, but I love Wilson backpacks,” says Bonilla. “I got mine in Japan before it was released here in the US, and it’s amazing.” Hers is all black, but this looks like the same style. It holds two racquets and a laptop and has different-size compartments for shoes and accessories.

“While I swear by a large LL Bean tote for tennis, I do like a backpack because it’s better for my neck and shoulders than a heavy tote,” says Shaftel. “The best by far is the Tecnifibre Tour Endurance backpack. It’s waterproof, pretty stylish, durable, and holds a ton, with a shoe compartment at the bottom. Because it has a big opening at the top, it’s relatively easy to root around for an errant wristband or vibration dampener.”

“Whenever I see someone sporting a large nine-pack-style tour bag I’m immediately like,Calm down, which is why I prefer to take a more discrete approach,” says Park. Like Shaftel, he uses an LL Bean Boat and Tote. “The heavy duty canvas looks better with wear and the open top means that I don’t have to deal with fussy zippers and ‘organization.’ Just throw your belongings in and head to the courts.”

“My most stylish friend, Sue Williamson, just launched a line of classic activewear made from all natural fibers and inspired by vintage PE uniforms,” says Sebastian. “I’m hell-bent on saving up for the full kit! I tend to gravitate toward timeless, easy looks — and Sue created just that for folks who want exercise basics that don’t follow a relentless trend cycle.”

“I’m coveting anything from the new Japanese brandSetinn(an anagram for “tennis”), made by Singo Arai, the casual menswear buyer for the Japanese department store Beams and subtly channeling the ’90s,” says Shaftel. “It already has a comprehensive range of on- and off-court apparel and gear — I love it track suits, and it has a legionnaire’s cap. Its WTA player,Ena Shibahara, has been wearing it on court.”

[Editor’s note: The Origin Store lists all prices in Japanese yen, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]

“I have a weird obsession with vintage tennis bags and have a collection of 15 to 20,” says Pillaresetti. “For a number of years, I was using this great Agassi-era Challenge Court bag with an acid-washed-denim fabric and bright-pink and green highlights, but I destroyed it a little too much, so I got a usedNike Court Tech 1 tennis bag. It’s a bit of an out-of-production, GOAT-ed bag for some tennis nerds out there.”

Cerulo has a search out forVirginia Slims Championship vintage merchbecause nothing screams high-endurance sports like cigarettes.