Girl Discovers Tennis
Last Wednesday, I had the incredible experience of attending the historic Wimbledon Tournament, something that I didn’t even know was possible for a normal, non-famous person to do. I was blown away by how elegant the grounds were and how classy everyone was compared to a high-profile American sporting event, where you most certainly would see someone drunkenly stumbling or fans fighting in the stands. I almost felt as if I snuck in somehow and kept reminding myself that I was actually there. I felt a little guilty because I am not a tennis fan, nor was I super tapped into that world other than sharing the last name of a famous tennis ball and racket company and watching Challengers like everyone else. However, post attending, I have gained a new obsession and appreciation for the sport, and tennis, and I have a lot more in common than I thought.
The first thing I was aware of was the fashion. In my opinion, tennis is one of the most fashionable sports; the players, once they reach a certain level, can eat up the court with their outfits. While all tournaments seem to turn up some good looks, I love the creativity that comes with Wimbledon. Unlike other big tournaments in the Tennis World, there is one significant requirement: all-white attire, including bras, for women and girls' divisions. You think that this would lead to extremely repetitive looks, but you would be incorrect. Historically, I think this tournament, more than others, makes players want to dress up. Perhaps it's the prestige of the venue and its longstanding pedigree, or maybe it's the pressure to match the tone set by the fans. I did a deep dive into the fashion of Wimbledon over the years, and I’ve never seen such beautiful sportswear. It's rare for a sport or sponsors to let their players express themselves on the court and open themselves up to the fashion world. I guess you could argue that the NBA tunnel works as a fashion show for players, but again, you are limited to a uniform on the court. Versus in Tennis, every match allows for a brand new look and will enable you to stand out.
One iconic look that comes to mind is Chris Evert in her all-white, lacy dress with matching ribbon and a gold plate name necklace. Anna Kournikova’s look in 2002 wearing a two-piece white and baby blue Adidas set that I would kill to own. Honestly, out of all of Tennis’s IT girls, I’d probably bling ring her closet first. But in terms of Wimbledon fits, Coco Gauff’s 2025 look by New Balance was my favorite. So beautifully detailed with lace designs of a butterfly on the front panel of her shirt, and dark green accents throughout. Crafting an outfit that can survive an intense sporting match while remaining gracefully constructed is no easy feat. But fashion and tennis’s relationship doesn’t stop at Wimbledon; there have been several players who have made impeccable style a part of their brand, such as Venus and Serena Williams.
Throughout their career, I think it's safe to say the Williams sisters have had some of the most iconic and controversial looks in tennis history. Serena’s 2004 US Open look with a bedazzled denim mini skirt and black Nike boot sneakers, their 1997 US Open look with their beaded hair, recreated in the King Richard movie, and those are just off the dome! Their archive is endless. However, I can’t mention Tennis IT girls without talking about Maria Sharvopa, Serena’s biggest rival and one of the sport's most beloved players, who has had several iconic looks of her own. A personal favorite of mine is her “Audrey Hepburn Dress” from the 2006 US Open The chic cut of the tennis dress is unlike anything I’ve seen in the sport. Another Sharapova favorite is her US Open 2007 fit, the Nike tennis dress with bedazzled details along the high neck of the dress. Like a lot of Maria’s Tennis dresses, it looks nothing like a tennis dress. I could go on and gush about Tennis fashion forever, but I’ll spare you all with that.
Other than outfits, I love the drama of Tennis! I had no idea there was so much performance and conflict in a non-contact sport, but boy was I wrong. I love rivalries, let alone one I can watch be dealt with via a one-on-one duel on the court. The passion these people play with, every serve and hit evoking a grunt, and the speed at which they throw themselves at the ball is so admirable. Tennis, more than most sports, lends itself to the power of personality. Players who have a lot of it aren’t punished in the same way they would be in other sports. Being cocky and having an outburst could get you in trouble with the ref or land you a movie like John McEnroe. I like that as a player, you don’t have to be aggressive and extroverted to succeed in your career and play a good match. Some of the best players, like Iga Swiatek, someone who is socially anxious and quite shy, can go head to head with someone like Aryna Sabalenka, who roars on the court and in press conferences.
At the elite level, it's cool to see how varied the players are both on and off the court despite reaching the same heights of success. The current world of Tennis has so many players to root for, like Ben Shelton, formerly viral for his “hanging up the phone” victory gesture, now dating gold medalist Trinity Rodman, daughter of NBA fame Dennis Rodman, currently ranked 10th. Or maybe you like an underdog story like Coco Gauff winning two major tournaments all before the age of 21 and getting a shoutout from Tyler the Creator. Perhaps you’re more into seeing a battle of the best between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, one of whom seems to have a smile glued on his face, and the other stoic and determined. It’s fun for someone like me to watch this game evolve in real time as these long-running “storylines,” if you will, have reached their climax. I think I’ve become a fan of tennis at just the right time. The new generation seems to be thriving just right when many of the greats are retiring, and the sport seems to have gotten a new life and a new fan.
