8 Best Tennis Shoes for Mens in Australia [2024 Guide]

Last year, tennis was the fastest growing sport in the country, with more than a million and a half Aussies picking up a racquet to enjoy a hit with mates. If you’re reading this, you might be one of those newcomers to the game, and you’re looking for the best pair of tennis shoes that will keep you injury-free and slicing drop shots like Federer. You’ve come to the right place, because not only will we be taking a look at a few of our favourite pairs of tennis shoes, but we’ll also be examining what makes a good pair of tennis shoes so you know what to look for.

Remarkably, for a lot of people finding the tennis court was one of the best things that happened to them over the last couple of years, as it’s a great sport for social distancing, while also getting you outside and your blood pumping. In 2021, Australia saw a 37% increase in the number of adults playing tennis, as well as a 29% jump in kids picking up a racquet, resulting in a total of 1,227,800 adults and 301,200 children having a hit.

This explosion of interest in the sport is great, not just because it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends, but because it’s a much healthier alternative to sitting on the couch, which we all did too much of during the lockdowns. It’s a level of interest that can also be seen in the attendance of the Australian Open, which in 2022 hosted a crowd of 346,468 over the two-week tournament, despite numbers being capped at 50% for the majority of the event.

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What To Look For In Men’s Tennis Shoes

The shoes you wear on the tennis court can greatly impact how well you’re able to play. The tennis court surface is very different to the tarmac or concrete that you’re regular running shoes are used to, which is why it’s important to have tennis shoes on your feet that were designed for the hard courts.

The shoes need to be able to pivot and turn more quickly, without reducing the support they offer your ankles. They also need to be grippy enough to quickly accelerate off the baseline, as well as offer enough slide to help you slow down again, making the perfect pair of tennis shoes important to find. Here are a couple of things to consider when you’re in the tennis warehouse looking for that perfect pair:

Fit

Fit is probably the most obvious one, as you don’t want to endure a couple of hours on the courts with a tennis shoe that leaves your feet in agony. As always, comfort is key, so you want to understand the shoe brands that make shoes the right shape for your feet, as well as offer outstanding cushioning and enough ventilation to keep your feet cool.

Durability

There’s nothing worse than buying a new pair of shoes, only to see them start to fall apart after a couple of months of wear. You feel like you’ve been cheated, and rightly so. That’s why it’s worth asking about the durability of the tennis shoes you’re considering, so they don’t deteriorate quickly on the hard court. Make sure the pair you pick out has a durable sole, especially in high-wear areas where extra durability is critical.

Traction

Footwear with good traction is critical in the game of tennis, as changing direction quickly is almost as important as hitting the ball sweetly. After all, you’re not going to be able to hit a winner if you can’t get to the ball in the first place. Most of the best tennis shoes for men will feature an outsole of durable rubber and tough plastic, so you’re able to get across the court with speed and precision.

Support

Tennis is a sport that requires a lot of lateral movement, so having a pair of shoes that delivers maximum stability is important to keep yourself injury-free. No matter if you’re shopping for a pair of training tennis shoes, or a competition shoe that you’ll only wear on game day, good ankle support is critical to quality performance.

Now that we’ve got a few things to consider, let’s get into a few of our favourite tennis shoe options that any tennis player can enjoy, no matter their level of ability.

Best Tennis Shoes for Men in Australia

1. NikeCourt React Vapor NXT
2. Asics Gel-Resolution 8
3. New Balance 796v3
4. KSwiss Ultrashot 3
5. Adidas Barricade
6. Asics Court FF 2
7. Babolat Jet Mach 3
8. Adidas adizero Ubersonic 4

1. NikeCourt React Vapor NXT

Bringing the best traction without compromising on cushioning, the NikeCourt React Vapor NXT tennis shoe has a herringbone pattern outsole to ensure you’ll feel supported no matter if you’re moving over hard courts or even clay. This data-informed design of the outsole means you’ll be able to slide when you want to, but also enjoy serious traction when you need to accelerate. If that wasn’t enough, these men’s tennis shoes also offer great Achilles and lateral support.

2. Asics Gel-Resolution 8

The Asics Gel-Resolution 8 is a tennis shoe well-loved by tennis players and coaches alike, thanks to its stability, support and responsiveness to the foot. With just a 10mm heel drop, these tennis shoes feel closer to the ground, which in turn makes you feel a little quicker too. Boasting flexion fit upper construction, not only do the Gel-Resolution 8’s feel good, but they also look great out on the court too.

3. New Balance 796v3

Thanks to a number of carefully implemented design elements, New Balance has managed to create a seriously lightweight feeling tennis shoe in the 796v3, which doesn’t lose out on responsiveness thanks to 8mm of heel drop and the REVlite cushioning midsole. It’s got a mesh NDure upper technology to help keep your feet cool and as stable as possible, while the full-length Ndurance outsole delivers traction and swift acceleration.

4. KSwiss Ultrashot 3

Just like many of the other big brands that make men’s tennis shoes, KSwiss look to the feedback of players when developing the Ultrashot 3, which is one of the most durable and stable in the current catalogue. The foam midsole ensures a spring in your step, while the specially designed herringbone outsole is there to provide the perfect balance between traction and slide.

5. Adidas Barricade

While Adidas makes great casual tennis shoes for men in the Stan Smith collection, the brand also makes quality performance tennis shoes such as the Adidas Barricade which features an asymmetric lacing system for total stability and a heel unit that provides a glove-like fit. They’ve also been specially designed for ongoing durability with Adidas-designed ADITUFF and ADIWEAR components, while the bouncy midsole foam will keep you on your toes and responding to whatever comes at you.

6. Asics Court FF 2

Light and energetically responsive, the Asics Court FF 2 men’s tennis shoes have a midsole construction that supports you from the impact of jumping and twisting, as well as using that energy to propel you into the next shot. It’s not simply about springiness, as they also offer lightweight Trusstic System technology and sock-like upper construction that will keep you stable for every shot.

7. Babolat Jet Mach 3

The Babolat Jet Mach 3 features an EVA foam heel unit that works in unison with the in-house designed KPRSX system for maximum shock absorption to keep you injury-free as best as possible. It’s a smaller brand than the most well-known manufacturers of men’s tennis shoes, but that doesn’t mean the Jet Mach 3 doesn’t have excellent stability, a Michelin outsole designed for ongoing durability and lightness on the foot that won’t slow you down at all.

8. Adidas adizero Ubersonic 4

Adidas really knows how to make tennis shoes for men that look great, and the adizero Ubersonic 4 is no exception. Featuring a super-light midsole designed for dynamic speed and stability, you’re also getting a lightweight woven mesh upper and an outsole that will last. If you needed anything else to like, these men’s tennis shoes are also made from high-performance recycled materials, so you’re being environmentally friendly as you move across the court.