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I’ve been playing tennis regularly for the past 15 years, and I’ve never witnessed the sport surge in popularity as much as it did this year. Perhaps it’s because the professional tour saw a changing of the guard as young superstars rose and older legends retired, and movies and shows like Challengers and Break Point brought the sport into the national spotlight even more. (Or maybe the rise of pickleball encouraged folks to pick up a different — and, in my opinion, more fun — racquet sport.)
As a writer covering fitness and outdoor gear, I noticed that all of this buzz around the sport has created more innovation in not only equipment (such as in racquet and shoe technology) but in apparel, accessories, and merchandise, too. There’s a crop of new tennis-specific brands making cool products for on and off the court, many of which make great gifts for the tennis-obsessed person in your life. To round up the best and most unique gift ideas, I talked to other tennis fans and players, including professionals on the tour, about the best gifts they’ve given and received. If you’re looking for other types of gift inspiration, make sure to check out our main gifting hub, where you’ll find all of our holiday gift guides.
Under $25
A keychain for anyone who’s had to reserve a tennis court in New York.
These crew socks have subtle Wimbledon purple stripes that add a nice touch to an all-white outfit.
Bageled NYC makes one of our favorite hats, and this athletic towel also nods to the scoreboard. (In the tennis world, the term “bagel” refers to a set score of 6-0.)
Your recipient can stick these silicone gadgets in between their strings (toward the grip), and they’ll dampen the sound of their strokes from a doink to a more satisfying pop!
David Foster Wallace’s essays on tennis — from playing as a kid in the windswept Midwest to describing the religious experience of watching Roger Federer play in his prime — are collected in this book. It comes recommended by Currie Person, founder of designer home goods store Spartan Shop in Portland, Oregon.
Person also recommends OPEN Tennis, a magazine about tennis, art, and culture. It reminds me of highly visual sports magazines like Victory Journal or Mental Athletic.
Youngna Park, who writes the weekly newsletter Making it Work in addition to contributing to the Strategist, says you can’t go wrong with giving a Tennis Channel subscription: “If they’re a tennis fan, they might already have this, and it’s a high-value subscription!” She notes that not all the tournaments air on TC. “It’s annoyingly balkanized in terms of who covers what,” but it’s great for viewing ATP and WTA coverage, she says.
A novel for the person in your life who enjoys world history as much as tennis.
Under $50
In Vulture’s summer pop-culture gift guide, Zoe Papelis recommended a shirt nodding to the fictional tournament in Challengers. Her original recommendation is out of stock, but this one is just as official.
You can’t go wrong with merch from the Courts, a tennis facility near Palm Springs. They also come recommended by Park, who says they do merch collaborations around specific tournaments with various artists.
A candle that smells like fresh tennis balls (if you know, you know) and sunscreen.
Writer Nick Pachelli’s tour of the world’s most iconic and unique courts.
A good reminder on a hat that will also keep the sun out of your eyes.
A hat from each Major
If they have a favorite player, they likely have a favorite Major.
This poster from the 1984 French Open captures the iconic red clay of Roland Garros.
This classic Zen guide to navigating the mental aspect of tennis will suit players of all levels.
Look to Rowing Blazers–adjacent brand Arthur Ashe for collegiate-inspired apparel that celebrates the legendary player.
A nice shirt for anyone who likes to play tennis in Riverside Park or Astoria (or anywhere else in NYC).
Under $100
A shirt for anyone who enjoys eating bagels and serving bagels.
Park says she has these shorts in three colors. “Great material, flattering cut, deep pockets,” she says. “I think Wilson makes the best tennis apparel right now, at least for women.”
Park also recommends a phone case from Pela’s tennis collection. “This one is my personal favorite, which says ‘tennis’ without screaming about it,” she says.
A shirt with a subtle shoutout to one of the main tennis hubs of North Brooklyn.
The Second Serve (which carries OPEN Tennis magazine) also collaborates with artists on apparel and gear, like these shorts with a graphic from Eddie Martinez.
An umbrella that will keep them drier than Centre Court in a rain delay.
Over $100
This tennis bag from Brain Dead comes recommended by Person. “My friend Andi, who I play with, and who is way cooler than I am, joined me in a long quest to find an interesting tennis bag. We bought them from Brain Dead, each in a different design,” she says. “They hold a massive amount of stuff inside — which is good for us mom types. You could probably fit like three small dogs and a case of beer!”
Person also recommends these shorts, which have an elastic band on the side for stashing a shirt or towel. “These shorts have pockets that are big enough for tennis, though they are not specifically tennis shorts,” she says.
Frances Tiafoe’s daily cologne has notes of cardamom and grapefruit tea.
Professional player Grigor Dimitrov can’t live without these Lacoste polos, which he mixes and matches for a variety of outfits.
For warmups and playing in cooler weather, this hoodie from Gnuhr is a safe bet — it’s made with fuzzy Polartec Alpha and is one of Person’s favorites for light layering.
Strategist writer Lauren Ro recommends these bags from Caraa, which have multiple compartments for racquets, bottles, and clothes, and are “very well made.”
When my colleague Kitty Guo interviewed members of the West Side Tennis Club, one member swore by this Tory Burch bag, which is shaped like a regular tote but comes with a detachable sleeve that can hold two racquets.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
