Women’s Tennis Apparel Today

Human beings have been competing in sporting activities for thousands of years. Well, at least half of them have. Women were banned from the earliest organized athletic competitions, including the Ancient Olympics. Misogyny and ignorance kept them on the sidelines for centuries. It was until the late nineteenth century that women started participating in amateur and professional sports in growing numbers. What changed? The attitudes toward women in sports did not evolve overnight. In fact, some men still refuse to accept them as equals. But what has changed is the attitude of female athletes. They no longer consider themselves tomboys or outdoorsy or any of the other nickname that was once used pejoratively. When women first started exercising, they did so because it made them feel independent and free. The first physical activities females engaged in great numbers were swimming and cycling. They were not allowed to actually participate in international competitions until 1900, when the Olympic Games finally lifted a ban that has been in place for thousands of years. But even before that time, women competed in a game that has since grown into a global sport. Tennis is one of the few modern sports that women participated in almost from the start. The game was invented in the early 1870s in England. Like most competitive physical activities, only men could play. Then known as lawn tennis, it was a game reserved for the rich and privileged. Wealthy women enjoyed the sport so much that they simply refused to take no for an answer. They played alongside their brothers, fathers, husbands, and beaus on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to the many clubs that had courts in England, there were also popular tennis clubs in Staten Island, New York. Just seven years after the first international tennis tournament was held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London (1877), women were permitted to play. Three years later, in 1887, women were allowed to compete in the U.S. Open Singles Championships and the French Championship. Of course, the rules were somewhat different for the girls. They were expected to dress and behave as ladies at all times. This meant they were required to wear long dresses that often impeded their movement on the court. But just as they had done from the start, female players refused to be held to a different standard than their male peers. Many of the early pioneers were famous not just for their prowess on the court, but also for their fashion sense. Suzanne Lenglen was the first women to expose her forearms and her calves during competition. It caused a bit of a commotion at the time, but folks eventually got over it and most of her peers followed her lead. Where are we now? Most female tennis players wear either dresses or two-piece outfits when they practice or compete. Of course, the women’s tennis apparel of today looks nothing like it did in the past. Hemlines are a lot lower, generally between the upper thigh and the knee. Both dresses and two-piece women’s tennis apparel are made from versatile and durable materials like polyester and spandex, which allow full range of movement and provide moisture protection. Many female players prefer two-piece women’s active wear because it gives them more style options. For tops, they can choose between long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless, and tank tops. For bottoms, they can buy shorts, shorts with shorties, skirts, and pants. Women’s tennis apparel is available at most pro shops and from reputable sellers on the internet.