How to smash a sartorial serve

Racquet sports and tenniscore are having their moment in the sun once again, which isn’t a surprise after Zendaya’s portrayal of the fiercely competitive tennis prodigy-turned-coach Tashi Duncan in Challengers. Tagwalk, the fashion search engine, saw a 138 per cent increase of the word ‘tennis’ following the release of the sweaty, steamy movie that also stars Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor. WGSN reports the global search interest in tennis increased by 8 per cent year-on-year in 2024.

While tennis is the undisputed mother of all racquet sports, if you have even a single athletic bone (or friend), chances are you’ve been exposed to pickleball fever. Less demanding physically and easier on the joints, pickle and its cousins padel and paddle tennis (played with a thinner racket and softer balls) are picking up speed in the cities.

You could, theoretically, wear the same thing for all racquet sports, but getting into specifics is more fun. Even if you’re a newbie to the courts, you can easily make up for your confusion and poor hand-eye coordination with a killer outfit.

Scroll to see our picks curated by The Nod’s stylist Naheed Driver.

The status tee

Skip the traditional polo t-shirt for something more #OOTD worthy. Miu Miu’s top with a gathered drawstring hem is great for flaunting your abs, while Lululemon’s asymmetrical tank shows you take both sport and style seriously. The JFK Jr-inspired ‘I Told Ya’ t-shirt from Loewe’s capsule collection for Challengers is just right for the moment.

Pleats please

Pleated skirts are a racquet sport wardrobe staple. Not only do they look cute, but they also offer more ventilation and range of motion than shorts. Classic brands like Lacoste and Wilson obviously come to mind, but new brands like Sporty & Rich have been serving up tenniscore looks too. Tory Burch’s performance tennis skirt is another fail-safe option.

Ace the tennis dress

This version by Zara is great to wear on or off the court, while the Upside’s feminine Lucette dress has in-built shorts for comfort. Thom Browne’s take features the designer’s signature grosgrain trims, a preppy collar, and a checked skirt.

We wear short shorts

These Roger Federer by JW Anderson for Uniqlo shorts are a no-brainer. Nike’s Court Slam shorts have pockets designed to hold tennis balls for when you want to practice your serves, while Varley’s light-as-air dolphin shorts are the perfect length and won’t leave you overheated on a summer day.

If you’ve just watched Challengers and want to dress like your favourite character, there’s no better place to start than footwear. If you’re Team Patrick (O’Connor), try the retro-style Nike Killshot 2 sneakers. Side note: they were originally designed in the late 1970s to be worn for sports like racquetball. If you’re Team Art (Faist), you might prefer The Roger from Swiss shoemaker On. Finally, if it’s designer or bust, there are Gucci’s 1977s which feature the house’s iconic GG motif.

Paddles and racquets

It’s not all about clothes; you also need the actual racquet or paddle. These options from Prada, Recess, and Versace go beyond the basic.

Court-friendly jewellery

While dripping in diamonds is an option, we’d recommend keeping things simple. Think Saint Laurent’s palladium tennis bracelet with crystals, the classic Tiffany T bracelet in white gold, or, if you want something functional, a sleek Oura ring that will not only track your game, but also your movement and sleep off-court.

Extra accoutrements

Look for slightly vintage-coded accessories like these high white socks from Ami, this green cap from Motherland, or this Mango visor with a Wimbledon-inspired logo to complete your outfit.