I’ll always remember the one that got away. It was a white, single-stitch Fruit of the Loom t-shirt with the perfect tagline: GO AHEAD…TAKE ME TO COURT. The illustration is signed by Doug Moench, a DC and Marvel comics writer, whose highlight reel includes Batman and Catwoman titles. The randomness of all this made the t-shirt that much more appealing and offbeat because, unlike my other vintage tennis t-shirts from Wimbledon and Wilson, this one wasn’t affiliated with a tournament or tennis brand. And I wasn’t alone; to date, I’ve tried and failed not once, not twice, but three times to purchase the t-shirt on eBay, Etsy or Poshmark. On every occasion, I add to cart, and before I can finish checking out, it’s gone. I keep searching for it, only to find myself in SEO hell, flooded with generic knockoffs, dull graphics, and meh taglines like SEE YOU IN COURT, HAPPIEST ON THE COURT, or TAKE ME TO COURT1.
When it comes to tennis merch, the past isn’t history; it’s a thriving business. Recently, Nike took note by reissuing John McEnroe’s 1984 Mac Attack and Andre Agassi’s Agassi’s Air Tech Challenge II, but stopped there. If you browse most of the tennis apparel lining shelves and landing pages today, you’ll notice that it’s all optimized for performance and not aesthetics—made for life on the court, not off it. If you want color, texture, or pattern, your best bet is vintage or secondhand. Fans of denim activewear, and icons like Agassi and Serena Williams, can pick up a pleated, acid wash denim skirt or denim Fila jorts. Real tennis heads can opt for '90s Sergio Tacchini tracksuits and anything Bjorn Börg-era Fila. Those who have it all can try Harrods Wimbledon towels, Adidas tennis handbags from the '70s, a Wimbledon Racquet Club jacket, or make their way to Sotheby’s.
While the US Open merch sells out every year, many vintage resellers see a spike in traffic in August. Tourists and locals, I’m told, are flocking over to them in search of tennis memorabilia they can’t find anywhere else. I spoke with some resellers and merchandisers about the enduring appeal of vintage tennis merch and whether it can be replicated today.
