The 12 Best Shoes for Tennis Players: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide for Men and Women

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In this complete guide to the best shoes for tennis, we will review the top men’s and women’s shoes on the market for tennis players. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help you choose the right shoe for your feet.

We have tested and reviewed the major shoe and tennis brands to find the best tennis court shoes from each. Then, we analyzed each shoe’s weight, comfort, support, durability, and flexibility to show you how it will perform on the tennis court. Our goal is to help you find the right shoe, so you can play your best tennis.

Before we review each shoe, here’s our list of the top 12 shoes for the sport of tennis.

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List of the Best Men’s & Women’s Shoes for Tennis

The table below shows our picks for the best tennis court shoes for both men and women by category.

Click the links below to order your shoes from Tennis Warehouse.

Category	Men’s Shoe	Women’s Shoe
Best Overall Tennis Shoe	Adidas Adizero Ubersonic	Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro
Best Lightweight Tennis Shoe	Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro	Adidas Stella Court Barricade
Most Comfortable Tennis Shoe	Asics Gel-Resolution 8	Adidas Stella Court Barricade
Most Durable Tennis Shoe	Asics Gel-Resolution 8	Asics Gel-Resolution 8
Best Tennis Shoe for Support	Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4	Adidas Women’s Barricade
Best Tennis Shoe Under $100	Prince T22 Tennis Shoe	Prince T22 Tennis Shoe
Best Tennis Shoe for Wide Feet	New Balance MC 1006 4E	K-Swiss Hypercourt Express

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Reviews of the 12 Best Shoes for Tennis Players

Below are our picks for the top twelve shoes for tennis players. We have tested and reviewed all the major brands and have narrowed it down for you.

Not all shoes are available in Men’s & Women’s models, but we’ve clarified in parentheses.

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Adidas Adizero Ubersonic Tennis Shoe (Men)

If you’re a competitive tennis player, on the court a few times per week or more, and need a high-performance and durable shoe, the Adidas Adizero series of shoes is a great choice.

This shoe is made with a combination of textile and synthetic upper, with a thick rubber outsole for excellent durability. Adidas removed the tongue from these shoes, creating a mesh upper that you slide your foot into. It enhances the comfort level by reducing the chances of a tongue rubbing or irritating your foot. This new upper design also wraps around your foot like a sock, letting you control the shoe easier, increasing performance. For tennis players who drag their foot on serves or volleys, the Adituff toe creates extra protection.

This new line from Adidas is also more lightweight than their previous shoes. They reduced some of the cushioning around the ankle and top of the foot, which doesn’t decrease comfort, but may decrease support and ankle stability slightly.

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Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro Tennis Shoe (Men & Women)

For a lighter-weight performance shoe, the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro is perfect. This is an updated version of their old Vapor X shoe and is used by multiple professional tennis players.

This shoe’s responsiveness is unmatched, making it a great shoe for advanced players. The Vapor Pro has a redesigned upper with several layers that enhance comfort and breathability. The inner layer wraps around your foot like a glove, while the outer layer adds support and durability. The midsole and outsole of the shoe have the same Zoom technology as the previous model for extra cushion.

Nike prioritized lightweight and versatility with this shoe, so the sole is not super durable. If you’re an advanced tennis player who moves quickly around the court, this shoe may not last long. Also, if you need extra ankle support, we’d recommend a different shoe.

If you simply want the best-performing shoe you can find, the Air Zoom Vapor Pro is a great choice. Nike also makes some of the best tennis shorts on the market today, so you can match your gear.

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Asics Gel-Resolution 8 Tennis Shoe (Men & Women)

Asics makes several great shoes for tennis. Players who use Asics shoes include Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils.

For players who seek a quality shoe with comfort and durability, this is a great choice. The Gel-Resolution includes technology from the front to the heel of the shoe that increase comfort and stability on impact while maintaining excellent responsiveness. It is also cushioned well throughout the shoe.

The synthetic sole wraps around the toe, and the side of the shoe for added durability. If you do wear through the sole, Asics offers a 6-month outsole warranty!

This shoe is also one of the most supportive and stable on the market. It will take a few matches to break in though. The only minor complaint about this shoe is that it’s not as breathable as some competitors. It’s also not recommended for wide feet.

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K-Swiss Hypercourt Express Tennis Shoe (Women)

K-Swiss is a smaller player in the tennis world, but they provide both excellent value and products. This K-Swiss shoe is the perfect option for ladies with slightly wider feet and lower arches.

The Hypercourt Express has great cushioning and comfort with a slightly wider fit. The flexible synthetic leather upper gives this shoe a secure yet flexible fit, allowing you to move around the court quickly. The toe protection helps with durability, while the materials make for a very lightweight shoe.

For ladies with narrow feet, this is not the best shoe. This shoe also lacks support around the outside, so players who run and cut quickly may not get the stability they need. This shouldn’t be a problem for most beginner and intermediate recreational players, however.

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Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4 Tennis Shoe (Men)

Nike’s Vapor Cage line of tennis shoes is built prioritizing support, stability, and durability. These shoes are used and designed for Rafael Nadal.

The laces combine with the upper of the shoe to wrap around the midfoot to create maximum stability and responsiveness. The outsole also wraps around the outsides and toe for extra durability. The Air Zoom technology under the foot makes these shoes very comfortable.

These are excellent hard-court tennis shoes because of they allow you to slide and move around the court with ease and comfort. These shoes are best for intermediate to advanced level tennis players looking for high-performance shoes.

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Adidas Women’s Barricade Tennis Shoe (Women)

The Barricade is one of the best shoes for tennis in the last few decades. This newest women’s version provides support and stability without being too bulky.

The mesh upper of this shoe offers a secure and comfortable fit. The holes for shoelaces are designed in an asymmetric pattern that helps improve stability and performance. These shoes have Adiwear rubber outsoles making them very durable for all-court players as well.

These shoes are more lightweight than other supportive shoes but are still slightly heavier than more performance-oriented shoes. Adidas also makes some of the best tennis skirts for women that pair well with these shoes.

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Adidas Stella Court Barricade Tennis Shoe (Women)

For women who want a high-performance, comfortable, and lightweight shoe, the Adidas Stella Court is one of the best shoes on the market.

The Stella Court, like most Adidas shoes, has a great combination of comfort, performance, and style. These shoes come with a mesh upper material that gives them a sock-like fit. This helps add comfort, support, and responsiveness. The upper is also very breathable to help keep your feet dry. The technology put into the sole of the shoe offers great cushion without sacrificing performance.

It’s a lightweight shoe without a ton of outside support, but excellent comfort. Advanced tennis players who play several times per week and move quickly around the court may wear these shoes out quickly but will love the performance.

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Prince T22 & T22.5 Tennis Shoe (Men & Women)

The Prince T22 tennis shoe is a great value for recreational and competitive tennis players.

This shoe offers excellent comfort, durability, and support for hard court players. They have a slightly wider fit, especially in the toe box, than other shoes for tennis like Asics, allowing your foot room to breathe. These shoes offer great toe protection which helps with toe drag. The cushion under the foot is better than most shoes as well, making this a great shoe for players who need extra ankle or knee support.

They have a 6-month outsole guarantee as well. The area these shoes are lacking is their weight. They are slightly heavier than most other shoes, but that comes with better support and comfort.

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Best Tennis Shoe for Wide Feet: New Balance MC 1006 4E (Men)

New Balance makes some of the best tennis shoes for men with wide feet. Their MC 1006 4E model is designed with maximum comfort for wider feet.

Similar to other New Balance shoes, this shoe is made of high-quality materials in the sole, midsole, and upper. Their REVlite technology provides extra cushion and comfort under the foot. The outsole also wraps around the front of the toe and inside of the shoe to increase durability.

The upper is lightweight and made of mesh and synthetic materials that help with breathability. The cushioned tongue helps create even more comfort around the upper.

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Shoes for Tennis

Similar to choosing a tennis racquet, when purchasing shoes for tennis, you will want to figure out what is most important to you.

There is no one perfect shoe for everyone, so below, we will help you decide what type of shoe is best for you. If you want a lightweight shoe, for example, you may need to sacrifice some durability in the shoes you choose.

What Makes Shoes Better for Tennis?

Shoes for the sport of tennis are different than normal “tennis shoes” in several ways.

• They have a flat sole with less tread helping them respond better to your movements.
• They offer more toe protection and cushion to increase durability.
• The outside is built to keep the foot stable when moving laterally.

The Parts of a Tennis Shoe

Before we find the right type of shoe, there are several terms related to shoes you should know to fully understand this guide.

• Sole or Outsole – the bottom of the shoe. Usually made of rubber.
• Insole – the insert that goes inside the shoe under your foot.
• Upper – the top part of the shoe that covers the foot. Typically textile & synthetic material.
• Tongue – the part of the shoe under the upper that goes over the top of your foot.
• Laces – you better know what laces are 😉

In this video, Dr. Zach Thomas explains in great detail all the parts of a shoe built for tennis and how each part helps tennis players perform better.

Now that we’re talking the same tennis shoe language, let’s figure out what is important for you in a shoe.

Do You Want a More Durable or Lightweight Shoe?

With shoes, you typically have to choose what combination of durability and weight that you want.

Durability Helps the Tennis Court Shoes Last Longer

However, to make a shoe for tennis that is durable, shoe manufacturers have to add more materials to the shoe. This increases the weight of the shoe.

There are some materials and technologies that will help a shoe stay lightweight and last long, but that only works to a certain point. Playing tennis is tough on shoes, and all materials wear out eventually. Adding a fraction of an inch to the sole is an easy way to make a shoe last longer, so that’s often what the designers do.

• Best Durable Shoe for Tennis (Women’s): Asics Gel Resolution 8
• Best Durable Shoe for Tennis (Men’s): Asics Gel Resolution 8

Lightweight Shoes Help the Tennis Player Move Faster

A lightweight shoe will let you move faster on the tennis court. You’ll be able to feel court easier through a thinner sole and move quicker. Tennis players who are in good shape and who like to cut, jump, and run quickly will often want a lighter shoe.

In general, lighter shoes will not last as long, so you have to buy new shoes every 6 months or so, depending on how you move on the court and how often you play.

The best tennis bags often have pockets for shoes to keep them protected when you’re not on the court.

• Best Lightweight Shoe for Tennis (Women’s): Adidas Stella Court
• Best Lightweight Shoe for Tennis (Men’s): Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro

Flexibility & Performance vs Support & Stability

Choosing between flexibility and support is similar to choosing between a durable and lightweight shoe. As you prioritize one, you sacrifice the other.

Who Uses More Flexible Shoes?

Flexibility allows the shoe to mold to your foot better as you move around the tennis court. A more flexible shoe will help you cut and run around the court better because as you move, the material in the shoe will adjust with your movement.

A more high-performance, flexible shoe is typically for advanced players who are in good shape, and less prone to injury. This type of player moves quickly on the tennis court and needs a shoe that can respond to their movements fast.

A good rule of thumb is, the more flexible you are, the more flexible your shoe can be. A shoe that is more flexible, however, will also usually have less support.

• Best Flexible Shoe for Tennis (Women’s): Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro
• Best Flexible Shoe for Tennis (Men’s): Adidas Adizero Ubersonic

Who Needs a More Supportive Shoe?

Support provides stability and cushion for your feet and joints. A supportive shoe can have a higher profile around the ankle for extra support. It can also have more cushion in the sole and upper to absorb the impact and keep your foot stable when it hits the tennis court. This helps with pain and can help prevent injury, but does sacrifice mobility and flexibility.

If you’ve had tennis injuries, ankle, or knee pain in the past, then support will be a priority for you. To increase support and comfort further, make sure you’re wearing the best tennis socks for your feet.

Also, if you’re new to tennis or about to start playing more, and plan to play on hard courts, we recommend prioritizing support. Playing tennis on hard courts is harder on your joints than almost any sport you’ll play, so starting with a supportive shoe is advised.

• Best Supportive Shoe for Tennis (Women’s): Adidas Women’s Barricade
• Best Supportive Shoe for Tennis (Men’s): Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage

Note: If you have had injuries, or are worried about injuries, please speak with a doctor about the right type of shoe and insole for you. We are not medical professionals.

Quality vs Value in a Tennis Shoe

As with any purchase, you have to decide how important the quality of the tennis sneaker is to you.

• Best Value Shoe for Tennis (Women’s): Prince T22 Tennis Shoe
• Best Value Shoe for Tennis (Men’s): Prince T22 Tennis Shoe

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Conclusion: Our Pick for the Best Shoes for Tennis

By now you should have an idea of what type of shoes for tennis you need. To recap, decide which of these criteria are most important to you.

• Durability vs. Lightweight
• Flexibility & Performance vs. Support & Stability
• Quality vs. Value

Our pick for the best men’s shoe for tennis is the Adidas Adizero Ubersonic for its combination of performance, comfort, and durability.

For ladies tennis players, our top choice is the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro. It is a lightweight, comfortable, and responsive shoe for any level tennis player.