10 All-Time Best Tennis Shoes
We all have our favourite but this is THE definitive list of the 10 best tennis shoes of all-time, from 1930 to 2024.
Dunlop Green Flash
The simple green and white canvas plimsol with it trademark herringbone grip from the mid 1930’s were worn by 3 time Wimbledon Champion Fred Perry and decades later become a street style favourite at the turn of the millennium, helping cement it’s position in this list of the 10 best tennis shoes ever.
Adidas Stan Smith
Originally created in the mid 1960’s for a French player named Robert Haillet, who unexpectedly retired. Stan Smith was signed up in 1978 by Adidas to endorse their debutant leather tennis trainers. This line is now a symbol of heritage for the brand and a staple fashion choice for everyday leisure wear.
Nike Wimbledon
Donned by John McEnroe himself during that famous final during 1980 Wimbledon Championships. The low cut silhouette with it’s mighty blue Swoosh became a real trailblazer for tennis players and casuals alike.
Diadora Elite
Bjorn Borg’s signature sneaker was a match made in heaven. The Ice Man from Sweden hit the limelight perfectly in these pumps .. and the rest is history as they say.
Nike Air Tech Challenge II Hot Lava
A complete game changer on and off the court. The ATC II with it’s neon pops of colour, volcanic graphics and air bubble tech stole the show in the 1990s. Andre Agassi was central to this as he grab the headlines wearing these funky mid cut shoes.
Reebok Victory Court Pump
As shoe design and technology continued to advance in the 90’s … you can’t forget the Victory Court Pump from Reebok boasting better support, protection and a custom fit courtesy of a unique tongue pump up system. Michael Chang spearheaded Reebok’s aggressive advertising campaign aiming to knock some air out of Nike – their main competitor.
Adidas Barricade 2
Entering into the arena, the 2004 indestructible Adidas Barricade has kicked on in many forms and has a history of success with Justine Henin, Marat Safin, Ana Ivanovic Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to name a few playing their part. Version 2 with it’s toe to tongue colour blocking and boosted heel cushioning perhaps takes the spoils as the best ever.
Nike Air Max Court Ballistec 2.3
Rafa Nadal’s dominance of a 5th Roland Garros title and 3 Masters 1000 tournament wins in 2010 launched not only the King of Clay into the limelight, but his snazzy Nike’s Ballistic 2.3 as a true force to be reckoned with. Yes, they might of been customised, but were still as close as you could get to the real thing.
Nike Vapor 9
Possibly, the holy grail of tennis kicks. Roger Federer danced around the show court wearing Vapor 9’s with flare. He even dared to step on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon in 2013 breaking the all-white dress code with an orange soled version (until officials instructed him to change them).
Asics Gel Resolution 9
Asics historically dates back to 1977 and created their Gel technology in 1986 which became a popular choice in the 90’s. Since then, the Japanese brand has gone from strength to strength making strides from Athletics to Tennis. This particular tennis shoe showcases unrivalled performance, comfort, support and looks for the modern player.
Reviewer profile
Gareth Richman is a tennis nut! For a day job he’s a freelance journalist for The London Standard specialising in tennis products and a PTR qualified coach who also represents his local club. He is an avid supporter of The Elena Baltacha Foundation. Follow Gareth on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok as he lives his tennis dream!
Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
