Ask five tennis players what to wear and you will get five different answers. Some are guessing. Some are repeating whatever they saw a pro wear on TV. Almost nobody mentions the one thing that actually ruins a match which is chafing two sets in.
This is what to wear to play tennis, based on what holds up on court, not what looks good in a photo.
The Outfit Mistake Almost Every New Player Makes
Picture your first tennis lesson. You reach for whatever is already in the closet: an old cotton t-shirt, basketball shorts, running shoes. None of it was built for tennis, and it shows by the second set. Tennis pushes you sideways, backward, and into short sprints over and over, and clothes made for the gym or for running were never built for that kind of movement.
Here are the three mistakes that cause most of the discomfort, and what to wear instead.
Mistake 1: The Wrong Fabric on Top
Cotton feels fine standing still. Once you start rallying, it soaks up sweat and stays wet against your skin for the rest of the set. A polyester or poly-spandex tennis shirt moves sweat away from your body instead of holding onto it, so you stay lighter and cooler for longer. A polo or a plain crew neck both work fine. Collared shirts are tradition at some clubs, but they are not a rule everywhere, so check before you buy anything specific for a new club.
Mistake 2: Bottoms With No Stretch
Shorts, skirts, skorts, and tennis leggings all work, and the style matters less than the stretch. Tennis has you lunging, sprinting, and stopping short again and again, so anything stiff will fight you halfway through a rally. Many tennis skirts and dresses come with a built-in liner, which is worth knowing before you add a separate pair of shorts underneath and end up with too many layers bunched together.
Mistake 3: Skipping What's Underneath
This is the mistake that shows up latest and hurts the most. Standard cotton underwear traps sweat and rubs against your skin, and tennis gives it plenty of chances to do exactly that. Sprinting to the net, twisting into a serve, and covering the baseline add up to a lot of friction in a short amount of time. Switching to a pair of tennis underwear built for movement changes this. It pulls sweat away from your skin instead of holding onto it, which means less rubbing and a lot less chafing by the third set. We wrote a full breakdown of how wicking fabric actually works if you want the details.
Fit matters just as much as fabric. A compression fit holds everything in place during quick direction changes. A regular fit gives you more room and less pressure. Neither is better across the board, it depends on your body and how you move. This guide breaks down the two side by side if you are not sure which one fits your game.
What About Shoes?
Running shoes are not built for tennis. Running is a straight-line sport, and tennis is not. Wearing running shoes on court is one of the fastest ways to roll an ankle.
● A non-marking sole, since most courts and clubs require it
● Lateral support built into the shoe, since cushioning alone will not stop side to side slide
● A slightly stiffer sole that holds up to quick stops and pivots
If you already own court shoes from pickleball or badminton, they will usually work fine for tennis too, since the side to side demands are similar.
Is There an Actual Tennis Dress Code?
Public courts and parks usually have no dress code beyond shoes that will not mark up the surface. Private clubs are stricter, and some still expect collared shirts or all-white outfits, especially at older or more traditional venues. Wimbledon is the best known example of this, where players are required to wear mostly white on court.
If you play competitively, leggings and compression shorts are allowed under most governing bodies now, including at the professional level, so you do not need to stick to a skirt or shorts if that is not your preference. A quick message to the club or a look at their website before you show up will save you from any surprises.
Dressing for Cold or Indoor Tennis
Layer up on top with something you can take off once you warm up. A long sleeve base layer under a t-shirt works well outdoors in cooler weather, since you heat up fast once the rallies start. Tennis tights or leggings with stretch are a better call than sweatpants, which get heavy and slow you down mid-match.
Indoor courts usually run warmer than expected, so stick to your lightest gear and check the shoe policy ahead of time. Most indoor facilities require non-marking soles just like outdoor hard courts.
What Women Actually Wear on Court
● A tennis dress with a built-in liner: one piece, nothing to adjust mid-match
● A skort: the coverage of shorts with a skirt layered over it, the most common pick at clubs
● A top and skirt or shorts combo: the most flexible option if you already own pieces you like
A supportive tennis bra matters here too, especially for anything involving sprinting to the net. And whichever style you land on, a moisture-wicking base layer underneath is what actually decides how you feel by the third set, not the outfit on top.
What Men Actually Wear on Court
● A breathable, lightweight shirt, polo or crew neck both work
● Shorts with real stretch, stiff fabric will fight you on quick pivots
● Compression shorts or performance underwear underneath, for support during sprints and direction changes
Men's tennis outfits tend to be simple on top. What gets skipped is what's underneath the shorts, and that's usually the part that decides whether you're still comfortable two hours in.
Accessories Worth Packing
● Socks: go for a cushioned, moisture-wicking pair, thin cotton socks are a common cause of blisters during long matches
● A visor or hat, plus sunscreen, since most matches run in direct sun for an hour or more
● A wristband if you sweat heavily, it keeps sweat off your grip during long rallies
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to a tennis match?
A breathable top, bottoms with stretch, and non-marking court shoes cover the basics. If you are playing somewhere with a dress code, check ahead, since some private clubs still require collared shirts or all-white outfits.
Do I need tennis-specific underwear?
You do not need anything tennis branded specifically, but moisture-wicking, chafe-resistant underwear makes a real difference once a match runs past an hour. It is one of the most overlooked parts of a tennis outfit, right along with socks.
Can I wear leggings in competitive tennis?
Yes. Most governing bodies, including the WTA, allow leggings and compression shorts during matches. This was not always spelled out clearly, but it has been standard for several years now.
What should I wear for indoor tennis?
Your lightest, most breathable gear. Indoor courts run warmer than outdoor ones, and most facilities still require non-marking soles.
The Part of Your Outfit You Shouldn't Skip
The shirt and shoes get all the attention in most tennis outfit advice, but what's underneath is what actually decides whether you're still comfortable by the third set. If you want a base layer built around exactly this kind of movement, check out our men's and women's performance underwear, built to handle sprints, quick pivots, and long matches without the chafing.
And if you have picked up pickleball too, you are in luck. The same underwear that works for tennis is exactly what we built ours around in the first place. Here is what to wear for pickleball if you want to see how the two overlap.
