The Evolution And Lasting Impact Of On Court Accessories

Accessories make the outfit. That applies on the court, too. Today’s era of tennis fashion may be defined by the looks of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, but a look back at the history of tennis accessories shows that what Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills-Moody, Arthur Ashe and Andre Agassi wore continues to play a role in the game’s ever-changing aesthetics.

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No tennis accessory was made more famous then when Chris Evert inadvertently gave us the “tennis bracelet.” During a 1987 US Open match, the American had a diamond bracelet fly off her wrist. The match was stopped to find the jewelry, and the term was coined.

Jewelry and tennis have always gone together: Alice Marble wore bracelets in the 1930s; Ashe wore a beaded necklace; Billie Jean King and her opponents accessorized in a nascent women’s tour. Today, earrings are as much a part of Naomi Osaka’s and Nick Kyrgios’ ensembles as anything else.

The wristband was first used in the 1930s, thanks in part to Fred Perry. Keeping sweat from running down the hand to the grip, and allowing players to wipe their brow, the accessory gained in popularity; Jack Kramer, Althea Gibson and Roy Emerson all wore them. As the terrycloth style emerged, new colors were introduced, with Ashe routinely wearing fashion-forward designs. It’s still found in heavy use across the tours, often in bright colors or apparel-matching tones.