Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

5 most stylish men in the history of Tennis

etimes.in | Last updated on - May 30, 2026, 13:46 IST
Comments
Share
1/7

​Game, Set, Style: The 5 Most Fashionable Men in Tennis History

When you think of tennis, you don’t just think of killer serves and grueling baseline rallies. You think of the style. The crisp whites, the immaculate tailoring, and that effortless "old money" vibe that the internet is suddenly obsessed with trying to replicate.

Long before quiet luxury became the buzziest trend in fashion, the tennis court was the ultimate menswear runway. From the invention of the cotton polo to modern luxury watches flashing under the stadium lights, the sport has always been a place to serve serious looks.

So, who actually did it best?

Let’s break down the five men who didn't just play the game—they completely redefined court elegance.

2/7

​René Lacoste

Before Lacoste came along in the 1920s, tennis players were basically suffocating in stiff button-down shirts and neckties. Imagine trying to hit a backhand in that kind of getup.

René changed the game entirely by inventing the short-sleeved cotton piqué polo. And yes, he slapped his now-iconic crocodile emblem right on the chest.

He didn’t just wear the country club aesthetic; he essentially drafted the blueprint for it.

Today, it is impossible to talk about preppy elegance without tipping your hat to the foundation he built.

3/7

​Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe was living proof that traditional dress codes don’t have to mean boring.

His on-court outfits were always ridiculously sharp. We're talking quintessential white shorts with perfectly pressed forward pleats and clean, no-nonsense polos.

But his off-court fits were just as legendary.

Ashe had this habit of throwing on a beautifully tailored blazer and a pair of square-frame glasses, making him look effortlessly refined at all times.

He was pulling off understated elegance way before fashion magazines even had a name for it.

4/7

​Björn Borg

Enter the 1970s.

The world was getting a little louder, and Björn Borg was the guy holding the microphone on the tennis court.

With his long blonde hair and signature striped sweatbands, he brought an undeniable rockstar edge to a sport that had historically been quite buttoned-up.

Borg put Fila Settanta track tops on the map. He managed to make vibrant, athletic gear look like high-end leisurewear.

If you’ve bought a vintage track jacket anytime in the last five years, you probably have him to thank.

5/7

Roger Federer

You simply cannot talk about tennis fashion without bowing down to Roger Federer.

The man literally brought bespoke menswear back to Centre Court.

Remember when he used to walk out at Wimbledon in a tailored cream blazer, a cozy cardigan, or even a crisp vest? Pure class.

But Federer’s style goes way beyond his clothes—he has a serious eye for high-end horology.

As a longtime Rolex ambassador, he’s hoisted Grand Slam trophies wearing everything from a classic Datejust to a highly complicated Sky-Dweller.

He proved, once and for all, that peak athletic performance and luxury watchmaking belong together.

6/7

​Jannik Sinner

Fast forward to today, and Jannik Sinner is carrying the torch.

Literally carrying it, in a custom monogrammed Gucci duffel bag.

When he stepped onto the Wimbledon grass with that bag last year, he broke the traditional mold in the best way possible.

It was a bold move, but a beautifully sophisticated one.

It’s the perfect snapshot of modern luxury.

Sinner, who is also a Rolex ambassador and often spotted rocking a Submariner, has this incredible knack for balancing the strict, all-white dress codes of the sport with genuine, contemporary high-fashion statements.

7/7

The final serve

Whether it’s a vintage track top or a statement duffel bag, these five icons prove that tennis will always be the most stylish sport on earth.

The game might change, but the fashion is timeless.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Success quote of the day by Kapil Dev - 'If you want to do something, achieve something, you can't be thinking all the time of what you don't have'
  • Meet the cutest ‘toll collectors’ in the Himalayas and why Zanskar deserves a spot on every traveller’s bucket list
  • Indian towns where clouds float through the streets
  • Small habits that support daily calm in children
  • 6 Indian foods that become healthier when eaten together
  • How to help children adjust to change and unfamiliar environments without anxiety
  • How to make a child’s birthday meaningful beyond cake and parties
  • Top 6 Indian root veggies that support liver health naturally
  • “In logo ko sharam nahi aati kya”: Indian tourists’ dance on Vietnam’s famous ‘Hanoi Train Street’ sparks online backlash
Photostories
  • Oncologist reveals 10 silent cancer symptoms most people dismiss as stress, aging, or minor health issues until it’s too late
  • ​Inside Taylor Swift’s love for cats​
  • 6 Indian foods that become healthier when eaten together
  • Born on a Wednesday? What it reveals about your personality, money, love and future
  • Indian towns where clouds float through the streets
  • A tiny mistake in a laboratory in 1957 created the world’s most feared honey bees and changed the fate of two continents forever
  • From Japan to Turkey: Why some cultures treat cats like royalty
  • Top 6 Indian root veggies that support liver health naturally
  • 7 fast-growing micro-markets attracting real estate investors across India
Explore more Stories
  • 8
    Perfect hair vs healthy hair: What should be your right hair goal?
  • 5
    ​From Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Shraddha Kapoor, Indian celebs who are proud pet parents​
  • 5
    ​Inside Taylor Swift’s love for cats​
  • 7
    6 Indian foods that become healthier when eaten together
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Fashion
  • /
  • Buzz
  • /
  • 5 most stylish men in the history of Tennis
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © May 30, 2026, 01.54PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service