History of Tennis Apparel

Tennis players often have a great appreciation for the history of the sport. Tennis clubs around the world will put on "classic tennis exhibitions" with club members adorning the courts with wooden rackets, white tennis balls and the wonderful array of tennis apparel used over the years.

  1. Early Tennis Apparel

    • Early tennis apparel resembled modern day baseball uniforms. Players had button down coats over balloon shorts and stockings.

    Wimbeldon Start

    • By the time Wimbledon's first tournament was played in 1877, men were playing in full-length flannel trousers and shirts, sometimes covered with a V-neck sweater. Women wore dressed down to the ankles with full-length sleeves.

    Shorts and Short Skirts

    • Henry "Bunny" Austin started a fashion revolution when he wore shorts during the 1932 Wimbledon Championships. Women such as Suzanne Lenglen revolutionized the sport by shortening skirt lengths and rolling up sleeves.

    White to Color

    • White was the customary color for tennis until the 1970s to help fans distinguish the players on court. While this began as stripes on sleeves and across the chest, it has made for a full color revolution in tennis except at Wimbledon where history still presides with predominately white.

    Long to Short to Sleeveless

    • Sleeves have gone from the long-sleeves of the late 1800s to short sleeves through the 1990s. Sleeveless shirts have become popular with women wearing spaghetti strap dresses and tops.