Stores
During the era of social distancing, tennis emerged as the perfect sport. There was plenty of fresh air, very little physical contact, and a comforting 78 feet of court separating you from the other person. But while many pandemic-era hobbies have faded back into obscurity, tennis has managed to stay popular—particularly when it comes to fashion.
With it’s mix of sporty ease, preppy polish and a hint of understated luxury, tennis style has always done well beyond the baseline. The internet eventually dubbed it “tenniscore.” The appeal is fairly obvious with pieces like crisp polos, pleated skirts, retro court sneakers, and lightweight knits (usually over the shoulders) all feeling athletic but wearable beyond the court.
What Is Tenniscore, Exactly?
Despite the buzzy name, tenniscore is less about dressing like you’re preparing for a doubles match at Wimbledon and more about borrowing the best elements of tennis style for everyday life. It’s clean lines, crisp basics, retro athletic references, and just a touch of understated luxury rather than full head-to-toe tennis whites and sweatbands.
Knit polos feel sharper than a T-shirt but remain just as easy to throw on. Pleated tennis skirts have structure without feeling stiff. Court sneakers look cleaner and more versatile than the oversized, marshmallow-like runners that have dominated footwear over the past few years, and are much easier to wear with jeans.
The trend has also been helped along by a generation of players who understand style both on and off the court. Roger Federer practically wrote the modern handbook on tennis elegance through minimalist tailoring, understated off-duty looks, and ostentatious but elegant white and gold on-court looks. Carlos Alcaraz has brought a younger, more relaxed energy to his on-court ‘fits. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff has emerged as one of the faces of fashion-forward tennis style, expressive colours, matching sets and tennis gear in ways that let her personality shine through.
Tenniscore has stuck because it’s genuinely wearable. You don’t need a racquet, a country club membership, or particularly strong feelings about Jannik Sinner to pull it off. Here are a few of the essential pieces to pull off the look.
The Tenniscore Essentials
The Polo Shirt
If tenniscore has a foundational piece, it’s the polo shirt. Modern versions range from crisp performance styles to textured knits, though bright colours, preppy stripes, and retro silhouettes remain central to the look. The polo’s roots trace back to tennis legend René Lacoste, who famously swapped stiff dress shirts for soft-collared polos on court, helping create one of menswear’s enduring staples in the process. Today, Nike continues to lean into sleek technical polos, while Malbon offers softer knit versions that work particularly well off the court. And, of course, there’s always the classic Lacoste polo, which remains iconic nearly a century later.
Courtside Layers
Now, layer up. Drape an oversized cable-knit over your shoulders for a touch of preppy Wimbledon elegance, or reach for a relaxed hoodie or a windbreaker for a more modern, off-duty take on tennis style.
Skirts & Easy Shorts
On the women’s side, pleated tennis skirts and streamlined dresses and sets continue to dominate the tenniscore look, often paired with oversized sweatshirts, crew socks, and lifestyle sneakers rather than full performance pieces. Tennis skirts from Malbon and Lacoste strike that balance particularly well.
For men, classic white shorts hitting just above the knee remain essential. Lacoste, Vuori and Billabong all offer sporty shorts that are easy to wear when actually playing tennis or simply dressing like you do.
Court Sneakers Are Back
Compared to chunky running shoes or louder streetwear styles, court shoes like Veja’s Panenka or Adidas’ Handball Spezial are simple, lower-profile, and much easier to wear day-to-day with jeans, chinos, or shorts.
White tennis shoes like Men’s The Roger Pro 3 Tennis Shoe from On go with practically everything, but tennis footwear isn’t limited to crisp whites. A subtle pop of colour, like the pink on Coco Gauff’s New Balance shoe, taps into the modern side of tennis style.
The Accessories That Pull It Together
Tenniscore works best when the accessories feel practical, sporty, and a bit understated. Crew socks, colourful scrunchies, timeless sunglasses, and simple caps can pull the whole look together. Don’t overlook the bag either—a retro-inspired duffel with modern touches like this one from Herschel (complete with shoe compartment) will do the job with aplomb.
Jewelry, meanwhile, tends to be subtle but important. Delicate chains, tennis bracelets, and small stud earrings that add sparkle without overwhelming. Donna Vekić once joked that her sparkling tennis necklace helped “blind her opponents,” which more or less captures the glamorous side of tennis style.
Ultimately, tennis style has stuck around because of its versatility and the way it’s able to balance elegance and sport. As the French Open ushers in another summer tennis season, expect to see the look everywhere from public courts to café patios, even on people who don’t know a Western grip from a Continental.