Tennis has changed throughout ages with one of the most notable being the clothes worn and the equipment used by players. To match these player needs and technological improvements, sports equipment, training gear, and clothes have evolved.
Several tennis brands provide high-quality items for pros and amateurs, many of which are household names. These companies are industry leaders, offering innovative, therapeutic, and trendy equipment and apparel for players of all levels.
10 Most Common Tennis Gear Brands
Here are the apparel and equipment brands most closely associated with pro tennis:
Nike
- Tennis shoes
- Apparel
- Accessories
Nike, Inc. is a global firm with US headquarters. The global conglomerate manufactures and markets footwear, clothes, equipment, accessories, and services worldwide. On January 25, 1964, Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971.
John McEnroe was Nike’s first athlete endorser in the early 1980s. This began the company’s professional tennis engagement. John McEnroe, a fiery tennis player known for his outbursts, helped Nike gain prominence throughout his career.
After that, Nike sponsored Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Pete Sampras. These collaborations made Nike one of the sport’s biggest sponsors, and players and fans quickly adopted the brand’s tennis shoes and other gear.
In the 1990s, Nike’s tennis engagement skyrocketed after Michael Jordan inked a revolutionary sponsorship contract. This cooperation solidified Nike’s dominance. Thus, the company expanded its tennis range while adding cutting-edge technology and designs to improve product usefulness and comfort.
Nike’s sponsorship of elite tennis players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams has made the brand a household name. Nike is still a tennis giant. Players and spectators use NikeCourt tennis apparel and footwear. Nike dominates amateur tennis.
Adidas
- Tennis shoes
- Apparel
- Accessories
Adidas AG sells shoes, clothes, and accessories. Adidas AG makes it. Its headquarters are in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and it is a major sports equipment producer. Adolf Dassler founded the company in 1949 as Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. Adidas, a combination of the founder’s first and last names, was officially adopted in 1949.
Adidas has been involved in professional tennis since the 1960s and 1970s, when it sponsored Stan Smith and Ilie Năstase. Adidas’ tennis clothes and footwear quickly gained appeal among professional and amateur tennis players due to these agreements.
Adidas expanded their tennis presence by sponsoring Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, and Michael Stich in the 1980s and 1990s. New technology and designs were introduced to improve tennis equipment functionality and comfort. Since then, tennis pros and fans have praised their products.
Adidas still supports many of tennis’ top players, including Novak Djokovic, Simona Halep, and Angelique Kerber. Adidas is a major player in professional tennis, and the Adidas by Stella McCartney brand is popular with players and fans.
Wilson
- Tennis racquets
- Balls
- Strings
- Grips
- Bags
- Accessories
The US-based Wilson Sporting Goods Company manufactures and distributes sportswear for a number of pro sports. The company was founded in 1913 in Chicago, Illinois, by Thomas E. Wilson.
In the early 20th century, Wilson began making tennis balls after a long history in professional tennis. This involvement began with the beginning of the game as a sport. Wilson’s high-quality tennis balls have made the company a trusted brand among players and tournament organizers.
Wilson sponsored both Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert in the 1970s and 1980s in an effort to diversify its product line and boost its tennis market share. New technologies and designs increased their tennis equipment performance and durability.
Over the decades, Wilson has proudly sponsored big tennis stars like Kei Nishikori, Juan Martin del Potro, and John Isner. Wilson’s Pro Staff and Blade tennis rackets are two of the most commonly used in both pro and amateur tennis.
Head
- Tennis racquets
- Balls
- Strings
- Grips
- Bags
- Accessories
Austria-based HEAD NV makes and sells innovative sportswear and equipment. Their products are popular among tennis players of all skill levels. Since 1950, Philadelphia native Howard Head has built the company into a global sporting gear powerhouse.
Since the 1950s, HEAD has made its name in tennis racquets. HEAD’s rackets are found in tennis aficionados’ collections worldwide.
HEAD gained popularity in tennis after sponsoring Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl in the 1970s and 1980s. New technology and designs were introduced to improve tennis equipment functionality and comfort.
HEAD makes a variety of clothing and gear for skiing, snowboarding, and other types of sportswear.
HEAD’s sponsorship of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Petra Kvitova continues. Head remains a tennis legend. HEAD’s Speed, Radical, and Instinct tennis rackets remain popular among players.
Babolat
- Tennis racquets
- Balls
- Strings
- Grips
- Bags
- Accessories
In 1932, French company Babolat began designing, manufacturing, and selling tennis equipment. The company’s headquarters remain in Lyon, France, where Pierre Babolat first founded the tennis business in 1875.
Babolat has been making tennis strings since the late 19th century. One of the world’s most esteemed tennis companies, Babolat makes rackets. The company now sells tennis shoes, clothing, and other tennis gear.
Babolat’s endorsements of Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Moya helped the company grow in the 1990s and 2000s. New technology and designs were introduced to improve tennis equipment functionality and comfort. Thus, tennis pros and fans have praised their items.
Babolat sponsors Fabio Fognini, Jelena Ostapenko, and Simona Halep. The company was formed in 1891. Babolat’s Pure Drive, Aero, and Play tennis rackets remain popular among professional tennis players and fans, helping the company maintain its industry leadership.
Dunlop
- Tennis racquets
- Balls
- Strings
- Grips
- Bags
- Accessories
Dunlop, a British manufacturer founded in 1890, is recognized for making tennis racquets and other tennis gear. Tennis pioneer Harvey du Cros created the company in Birmingham, England, in 1889. Since then, tennis fans worldwide have chosen it.
In the early 20th century, Dunlop started making tennis balls and was involved in competitive tennis. Dunlop is one of the most popular tennis companies due to its wide range of rackets, shoes, and accessories.
Sponsorship partnerships with John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors helped Dunlop grow rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s. New technologies and designs have increased the tennis items’ performance and durability. Tennis players and fans prefer these products.
As the sponsor of Kyle Edmund, Milos Raonic, and Belinda Bencic, Dunlop remains one of tennis’s most recognizable brands. Dunlop plays a key role in professional tennis thanks to its Srixon, Maxply, and Biofibre tennis rackets.
Yonex
- Tennis racquets
- Balls
- Strings
- Grips
- Bags
- Accessories
Yonex Co., Ltd., a Japanese firm, makes tennis, badminton, and golf equipment. The Tokyo-based tennis company was founded by Minoru Yoneyama in 1946.
Since 1970, Yonex has been a major player in professional tennis gear. Yonex has become a well-known brand due to its wide range of high-performance shoes, strings, and other accessories.
Sponsoring Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in the 1980s and 1990s helped Yonex become an industry leader. These agreements kept Yonex on top for several decades along with new technology and designs that were introduced to improve tennis equipment functionality and comfort.
Yonex has been proud to sponsor such famous tennis players as Kei Nishikori, Naomi Osaka, and Marin Cilic. The EZONE, VCORE, and NANORAY tennis rackets from Yonex are still popular among players and fans.
New Balance
- Tennis shoes
- Apparel
- Accessories
New Balance Athletics, Inc., better known as New Balance, designs, manufactures, and sells footwear, clothes, accessories, and athletic items worldwide. Since 1906, the New Balance Arch Support Company has become one of the world’s largest athletic footwear and gear producers.
New Balance has been a professional tennis shoe manufacturer since the early 2000s. New Balance has been a tennis powerhouse since adding tennis clothes and accessories.
New Balance signed sponsorship arrangements with Milos Raonic and Yanina Wickmayer in the 2010s to solidify its market dominance.
Kei Nishikori, Karen Khachanov, and Sofia Kenin are all sponsored by New Balance, one of the world’s most famous tennis brands. New Balance’s Fresh Foam, ProCourt, and Court tennis shoe lines are popular among players and fans, helping the business remain a top brand in professional tennis.
Under Armour
- Tennis shoes
- Apparel
- Accessories
US-based Under Armour, Inc. designs and sells sportswear for men and women. The company was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank in Washington, D.C.
Under Armour began making tennis clothes and gear in the early 2010s. Since then, Under Armour has stayed close to the sport. Tennis accessories have helped Under Armour become a market leader.
In the 2010s, Under Armour signed sponsorship partnerships with tennis stars Andy Murray and Sloane Stephens, solidifying their position as a market leader.
Under Armour remains a prominent figure in the professional tennis sector by sponsoring Kei Nishikori, Denis Shapovalov, and Coco Gauff. Tennis players and fans appreciate the Under Armour’s Charged Cotton, HeatGear, and Microthread product lines.
ASICS
- Tennis shoes
- Apparel
- Accessories
Japanese multinational ASICS was founded in 1949. The firm designs, manufactures, and sells sportswear and accessories. The small shop opened in Kobe, Japan, in 1949 now dominates in the global athlete apparel sector.
Since 1960, ASICS has been involved with professional tennis and is now one of sport’s biggest names.
In the 1990s and 2000s, ASICS signed sponsorship arrangements with major tennis stars including Mary Pierce and Thomas Johansson to boost brand awareness.
Today, ASICS is still a major professional tennis brand and the company sponsors John Millman, Madison Keys, and Kyle Edmund. ASICS’ Gel-Resolution, Gel-Game, and Gel-Challenger tennis shoes remain popular among players and spectators.