Nike tennis runners

Nike Tennis

Since Nike Tennis released its first shoes in the early 1970s, the department has developed a reputation for innovative designs, boundary pushing aesthetics and strong athlete partnerships, which has brought about some of the most iconic footwear in the sport.

In 1973, Nike Tennis worked with top players like Romanian Ilie Năstase, using their knowledge to develop performance shoes like the Racquette, Forest Hills, Match Suede and Wimbledon, alongside the colourful Bruin Suede for casual play. These incorporated cutting-edge features such as the shell sole, the blister-preventing Spenco innersole and the supportive nylon and polyurethane Arch Bandage. Five years later, the eccentric John McEnroe became a Nike athlete, his success boosting the popularity of silhouettes like the Wimbledon and the Killshot.

During the 1980s, the sport became more intense, so Peter Moore crafted McEnroe a supportive signature shoe called the Mac Attack. Released in 1984, its protective mid-cut collar and distinctive checkerboard tongue patch were so timeless that it later returned in a collaboration with American rapper Travis Scott. In 1987, McEnroe switched to Tinker Hatfield’s Air Trainer 1, which, though not meant for the court, had the lateral support, containment and flexibility to be a great tennis shoe.

Nike Tennis’s next big star was the rebellious Andre Agassi, whose audacious attitude was captured in another Tinker classic, 1989’s Air Tech Challenge 2. This revolutionary silhouette was built around Agassi’s high-powered game, with TPU support wings and visible Air technology, and the vibrant ‘Hot Lava’ launch colourway reflected his flamboyant on-court style.

In the 1990s, Nike Tennis partnered with its first female stars along with Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras. Tinker returned to design another great shoe, the Nike Air Oscillate, giving it Zoom Air cushioning for fantastic support and a traditional look that reflected Sampras’ sophisticated style. Shortly after its 1996 release, Nike signed the legendary Roger Federer, who helped develop various models in the long-running Vapor series from its inception in 2004. This was eventually combined with his great rival Rafael Nadal’s favoured Cage series, leading to the fast, powerful Air Zoom Vapor Cage. Alongside the launch of the Vapor, Serena Williams became a Nike athlete, beginning a hugely influential partnership that produced 2014’s Nike Court Flare. Specifically designed for her, it was known for its stylish colourways, including a notable 2018 collaboration with Off-White. Meanwhile, Nike Tennis continued to champion top female players, signing future world number one Aryna Sabalenka early in her career. Across the years, she wore various models before becoming an ambassador for the Vapor series, with recent designs featuring a customised Tiger logo that reflects her courage and determination.

By the early 2020s, younger players such as Naomi Osaka were coming through as proponents of cutting-edge silhouettes like the GP Turbo, whose full-length Zoom Air Strobel unit provided responsive comfort. She also wore its 2023 successor, the stable, supportive GP Challenge 1, as did Italian world number one Jannik Sinner during his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is the face of the Vapor 12, wearing a modified version with a Vapor Pro sole that he prefers for its lightweight responsiveness and lateral stability.

Nike Tennis has built its success upon bold innovation and intelligent sporting partnerships, providing a range of high-performance tennis shoes for all surfaces, levels and play styles.