You don’t have to be a player to channel a bit of tennis style this summer – here are some accessories and ideas for both on and off the court …
As Wimbledon heads towards its climax over in London, we find ourselves in that time of year when even novices are inspired to dust off their rackets and head to a local court, inspired by the glamour and passion of the pros. And why not – it’s a brilliantly democratic game that requires little outlay and appeals to all ages. It’s sociable, competitive and great cardio for everyone from teenagers to octogenarians (one friend’s dad played into his nineties).
For players, it’s all about the game – the tactics, the tenacity, the mental and physical agility, the gladiatorial challenge. For everyone else, there’s the signature Wimbledon glamour – Sienna Miller tousled and glowing in shades, Benedict Cumberbatch in a sharp suit, Jannik Sinner in Gucci, Jack Draper’s hair. At Roland Garros, the group of French spectators in front of us spent an entire set discussing the guests in the celebrity box and their outfits. In fact, we’re pretty sure that Vogue’s Anna Wintour is stepping back purely so she has more time to watch tennis – she was at Queen’s Club the other week, and is rarely far from a court.
You don’t have to be a player to channel a bit of tennis style – here are some accessories and ideas for both on and off the court …
THE STYLE
Alo is seriously pricey, there’s no question. But the separates are undeniably attractive: this is tennis, Athena poster style. The tennis dresses are a crazy €160, and €77 for a visor is preposterous. “You’ll look cute on the court”, the marketing blurb promises us. People who actually play tennis don’t care at all about that. But we have to admit that Alo’s styles and colours, such as seashell blue, spearmint and smoky quartz, are alluring. The tennis skirts (€100) are pretty, if a bit short for actually playing in comfortably. More practical are the Airlift Down The Line skirt in soft mauve, and underpinnings such as the Airbrush Hearth Throb Bra (€89) in black and white.
Varley, at Net-A-Porter, has an attractive tennis range, too, including this dress.
THE TENNIS BAG
Family-owned Grandstand in Dun Laoghaire has a good selection of kit, from shoes to rackets, and, most importantly, offers friendly, expert guidance. Best of all, they’ll let you take away a racket or two to trial – the only way, really, to buy the right one. We have our eye on this Wilson backpack (€85 on sale, down from €95), and the Wilson Roland Garros limited-edition rackets, also currently reduced. Visors, by the way, are around €15 …
More here: The Best Active Wear To Enhance Your Workout
THE BEAUTY KIT
The beauty of tennis is that you don’t actually need much kit – a basic racket, T-shirt and shorts will suffice. A good, non-sticky SPF is essential, though – we’ve been using La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVAIR SPF50+ for face, as it’s light and non-greasy with full-spectrum coverage (if you apply the correct amount, of course) in a small neat 40ml size. At pharmacies nationwide, €26.
A spray-on option can be handy for arms and legs etc, but some feel a bit oily on the skin, and have a pile of alcohol in the formula, plus they’re hard to apply correctly to achieve the correct coverage – they can be a bit casual. To be safe, apply your usual SPF50 cream or lotion thoroughly first, before you leave the house, and use a spray as a top-up. Derm-recommended brand Heliocare 360, currently reduced to €25.45 at Look Fantastic, is a good option for this. You still need to rub it in to ensure proper coverage though, whatever the tin says, and make sure you apply plenty.
THE STORES
Get your racket restrung and upgrade your shoes and rackets at Fitzwilliam Tennis Club’s store, Rackets.ie (there’s a sale on at the moment) – they cover all racket sports, including pickleball. Check out the kit, shoes and rackets at JC Tennis, Malahide Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, which has offered a stringing service for nearly a decade.
We love the bright red Head skort (€39), and the version with tights for the colder months (€55).
THE KIDS’ GAME
Swingball was one of the staples of a 1970s childhood summer. The ball on a string is all but guaranteed to cause arguments between competitive siblings, not to mention the odd injury – but it at least encourages hand/eye coordination and gets the kids off their screens. Currently €25 at Toys Direct. Though, you might be better going down to your local court for a hit.
THE BOOKS
Get in the mood with a copy of Conor Neiland’s tennis memoir, The Racket, voted William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2024. It’s a wry, self-effacing peek behind the scenes at what it really takes to get to the top (or not). The Irish former pro reached a world ranking of 129 and has the inside track on the reality of the hard slog behind the glamour. It’s very funny and hugely entertaining. And don’t miss the justly feted Open by Andre Agassi. I was completely gripped by its wins and losses. Very well-written, painfully honest and moving, this memoir is frank about the shortcomings of the star players of the era, such as Sampras and Courier (Jimmy Connors does not come out of it well), as well as the story of his marriage to Brooke Shields. It gets a bit sentimental towards the end, but overall it’s a brilliant memoir. Finally, Courtship puts the spotlight on the world’s most scenic tennis courts, picked by tennis fan, model Laura Bailey.
THE SCENT
Get in the spirit of summer tennis with Lacoste’s Original Parfum, available from July 14 at The Fragrance Shop. It’s a stronger version of the original zesty, spicy fragrance, with bright and sporty notes of bergamot, ginger, lavender, violet leaf and incense on a base of amber, patchouli and tonka bean. It’s targeted at men, but anyone could wear it happily on a summer’s day, and feel as fresh as Roger Federer’s white shirt. The original two perfumers, including master perfumer Anne Flipo, have worked on this longer-lasting perfume. From €79.
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