The Reality of Tennis Fashion
- CAROLINE DIDELOT“Where does real spectator fashion, luxury or not, fit into all of this? Where are the women who buy $50 upper-bowl tickets on Centre Court but look like they belong front row?”
Each tennis tournament you attend is incredibly different, special, and unique. What you'll find most captivating about each (in my humble opinion) is the fashion.
Tennis wasn't always the "tenniscore," Challengers-meets-Zendaya chic social media phenomenon we see today. It was once a historic, traditional, and some might say stuffy sport. Now, there are more conversations happening around tennis than ever before, with fashion taking center stage. Just this year, discussions around the US Open haven't focused solely on who will claim the title, but whether the tournament might overtake New York Fashion Week as the bigger, more dominant spectacle. The place where influencers, celebrities, and luxury brands are directing their dollars, time, and ambassadorships.
The Accessibility Revolution
Tennis has risen dramatically in the eyes of younger audiences, and there are several reasons for this surge in interest. For one, tournaments have become far more accessible than when they began in the 1800s, when you needed to be royalty or hold a certain social standing to even attend a match.
Over the past few years, I credit one person for bringing a younger, female-led demographic to the game. One that's welcoming and, most importantly, fun. Her name is Morgan Riddle.
The Morgan Riddle Effect
Most fans came to know Morgan Riddle (@moorrgs) for exactly who she is: popular, influential, fun to follow on Instagram, with incredibly well-shot and edited YouTube vlogs (which she edits herself, and they're fantastic). Most significantly, she's the girlfriend of top-ten American tennis player Taylor Fritz.
When I first got into tennis, it was my husband (then fiancé) insisting, "I love tennis and you will too." Like most things, he was right. As I grew to know and love the players, I discovered some of their girlfriends on Instagram… and that's how I found Morgan Riddle.
Say what you want about Morgan. I have no skin in this game and I'm certainly not being paid to write about her. What I will say is that Morgan gave me, as I'm sure she did for many women, a way to have fun at tournaments and get excited about attending them. After all, nothing beats playing dress-up for a day compared to wearing the same black pants and button-down to work on a Tuesday.
Beyond that, figuring out what to wear to each uniquely different tournament, with its distinct style and climate, presents its own exciting challenge. I became my own brunette Barbie.
The Reality Check
Fast forward: I've now attended three tournaments (US Open, Miami Open, and Cincinnati Open) with three more planned for 2026. Here's the thing about dressing up for tournaments: it's not exactly what it looks like on social media. Shocker, right?
The truth is, whether you're Morgan Riddle or a beautifully dressed woman being interviewed by Morgan Riddle, you're probably both standing there in heels, tweed, and bouclé Chanel dresses because you have access to air-conditioned suites, shaded seats, or you're only staying for one match rather than a full day. Most importantly, you're certainly not camping out at Wimbledon, which is why your hair looks amazing and your makeup stays fresh.
The Cincinnati Open was my final reality check. I found myself asking: Where are all the girls with the fire outfits? Are they just not at the tournaments I've attended? How do you dress for 92-degree heat, 2.5+ hours of direct sun, and well over 10,000 steps… all while looking "so elegant"?
The Real Question
I love getting dressed up and looking cute for tennis matches as much as the next person. But when I'm traveling across the country or around the world for a tournament, I'm typically there to see several matches and spend full days on the grounds.
So here's my question: Where does real spectator fashion, luxury or not, fit into all of this? Where are the women who buy $50 upper-bowl tickets on Centre Court but look like they belong front row? Heels or flats, Dr. Scholl's blister cushions or not… where does the average tennis fan meet tenniscore, comfort, and a killer outfit?
I'm not sure yet, and I'm still learning. But let's sweat, get some blisters, and find out together.
