8 Best Shoes for Tennis for Women (Expert

Jul 10, 2023

If watching Markéta Vondroušová and Carlos Alcaraz win last month’s Wimbledon championships (or the U.S. Open, which started yesterday) has you wanting to try tennis for yourself, you’re not alone. Whether you’re brand new to the sport or you’ve been emulating Venus and Serena Williams on your home court for years, this is one scenario where what you wear (we're talking best shoes for tennis) does make a difference.

Tldr; the right shoes for tennis prevent injury and give you the support you need to play a good game. We spoke with Trisha Goyal, Founder & CEO of Break the Love—a mission-driven, social sports booking platform making it easy for people to find courts, players, and gear for racquet sports like tennis and pickleball—about why choosing the right tennis shoe matters. “Unlike running or cycling, tennis requires a lot of lateral movement,” Goyal says. “Getting shoes that provide support and cushioning for your movement on the court is really important to avoid injury.”

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The short answer? Yes, but at your own risk. “Technically you can use other types of shoes when playing tennis—specifically non-mark shoes,” Goyal explains. “I have seen people use basketball or running shoes when just getting started with tennis, but I generally don’t recommend these other shoes.” That’s because tennis shoes are specifically made to help you avoid injuries from consistent lateral movement in tennis, which really is different than similar sports like running or basketball.

It’s time to put your best foot forward on the court: we’ve rounded up eight of the best women’s shoes for tennis.

The K-Swiss Women’s Hypercourt Express 2 Tennis Shoe is one that consistently ranks at the top of beginners’ and experts’ lists of favorite shoes alike.

These particular tennis shoes blend some of the most important characteristics, like durability from a high-density outsole, enhanced midfoot stability from a 180-degree support chassis. Best of all, they’re made from a lightweight, flexible material—which means you won’t have to endure a brutal breaking-in period, and can get right to practicing your serves on the court.

Material: synthetic leather upper, mesh, rubber

Sizes available: 5-11

Color options: black/lavender, blue/blush, light blue/white, black/white, gray/white/blue, baby blue/pink

Insole: Ortholite

Who better to help shape tennis shoes than a former tennis player? Roger Federer, a world champion numerous times over, teamed up with On to develop the ON The Roger Pro White/Acai Women’s Shoe. These shoes provide comfortable, breathable support and the stability you need to perform on the court. Designed to work for players at all levels, this pair has traction while allowing you to slide if needed (so you never miss a shot).

There are actually two professional WTA players wearing this shoe at the moment: Leylah Fernandez from Canada and Donna Vekic from Croatia. This pair was also one of Goyal’s recommendations, thanks to its sidestep support and extended bottom unit for increased lateral stability.

Material: engineered mesh upper, carbon fiber Speedboard midsole, rubber outsole

Sizes available: 5-11

Color options: white/Acai

Outsole: Special outsole pattern for better traction

Style and comfort meet with the Asics Gel-Dedicate 7 Tennis Shoe, perfect for those with high arches and those who stick to the baseline in tennis, moving side-to-side frequently. Those lateral movements require extra support, and this shoe is made with synthetic leather materials to improve support. This style is also made with a special support unit and wrap-up outsole, both of which improve stability while letting you move around freely for quick direction changes, especially side-to-side, just as Goyal recommends.

Material: engineered mesh upper, carbon fiber Speedboard midsole, rubber outsole

Sizes available: 5-12

Color options: white/black, black/island blue, steel blue/white, white/hot pink

Other specs: lift-back for extra support

The NikeCourt Air Zoom Pro has a full-length plate that acts like a springboard, so you can harness your power on the court and make every serve and volley count. Made with flexible fabric to keep your feet cool and comfortable, these shoes feel springy and responsive. You’ll feel enhanced energy return with every step, but without sacrificing stability or durability: textured rubber on the toe of the shoe increases durability while the minimal outsole gives you traction for lateral stability. These shoes are specifically designed for hard courts, so keep that in mind as you shop for the perfect pair for your new tennis routine.

Material: mesh, rubber

Sizes available: 5-12

Color options: off white/kelly green, white/metallic silver, jade/white, black/metallic bronze, light gray/dark gray

For most of us, investing in a new pair of shoes means we want three things: functionality, style, and durability. No one likes spending ages choosing the perfect pair only to make it through a few months of wear at most. The New Balance Coco CG1 are crafted to be equal parts durable and stylish, with support to help prevent injuries as you take on opponents on the court. This pair contains FuelCell foam, which helps drive you forward with a propulsive feel. It also has an energy arc to deliver a higher energy return, and a special saddle gore band for additional support during those harsh-to-your-body lateral movements common in tennis.

For the avid player, the Coco CG1 has a unique toe guard and rubber outsole technology so you get the most mileage out of your new tennis shoes. And with a design inspired by basketball silhouettes and ‘90s aesthetics, you’ll feel your best on the court, too—and confidence is the first step to winning.

Material and need-to-know specs: FuelCell foam, Energy Arc plate geometry with strategic midsole voids, saddle gore band, NDure toe guard, NDurance rubber outsole technology

Sizes available: 5.5-16.5 (and wide sizing available)

Color options: Sea salt with tobacco

Sometimes, the goal is just comfortable, lightweight shoes that get the job done. Like Goyal shared with us, “A lightweight shoe helps you have more speed but tends to not last as long.” The NikeCourt Air Zoom Lite 3 are one of the most comfortable and lightweight women’s shoes for tennis, particularly because of the minimal finishes and breathable mesh inlays. The shoe includes a springy Zoom Air unit, grippy outsole, and extra comfortable padded collar so you can play at your best without sacrificing your comfort. The stretchy internal sleeve will hug your foot for a sock-like fit, and the toe area has a breathable material for increased airflow so you stay cool during any tennis matchup on your schedule.

Material: mesh, rubber, foam

Sizes available: 5-12

Color options: Pink bloom/sail/coconut milk/adobe, white/metallic silver, white/teal nebula/gum light brown/lime blast, white/football gray/flat pewter, black/white/metallic red bronze

Recommended to us by Goyal, the Adidas Stella Court White Women’s Shoes have two mesh layers for all-day breathable comfort. The shoes are designed to be comfortable with responsive cushioning, but also functional so you can play at your best: a 3D torsion system gives extra support and stability, while boost capsules under the heel give you higher energy return.

This pair is also a favorite of WTA pros like Danielle Collins, and reviewers agree: from beginners to experts, everyone seems to love this pair with consistent five-star ratings and even some reviewers saying they’ve purchased backup pairs since no others compare.

Material and need-to-know specs: two-layer seamless Primeknit and mesh upper, Boost midsole with 3D torsion, durable rubber outsole. Special herringbone outsole pattern for secure traction.

Sizes available: 5-11

Color options: white

There is perhaps no one more suited to create a woman’s tennis shoe than Serena Williams: champion, mom, and style icon. And she did just that, teaming up with Nike for the Nike Air More Uptempo x Serena Williams Design Crew. While the style of shoe Williams wore most often in her competitions is no longer in production, these shoes offer similar performance with a style inspired by some of Serena’s most well-known looks (like her on-the-court denim skirt moment).

The shoes feature a soft denim feel with raw edges for a unique vibe. Metallic finishes and decorative stitching pay homage to elements found in your favorite jeans. But these shoes are more than just stylish: they come with Nike Air technology to absorb impact, and are perfect for changing on the go since they have elastic straps instead of traditional laces.

Material: mesh, rubber, hemp, denim

Sizes available: 5-12

Color options: Dark Obsidian/Space Purple/Volt/Summit White