Nike Womens Air Zoom Vapor X Glove Clay - Black/Purple Agate

Ever since their first entry into tennis footwear back in 1973, Nike have set the trends that define the shoes we see on-court to this day.

Bringing colour and attitude to a sport famed for its formal dress codes, the Swoosh shook up the establishment in the 70s with some inspired designs and endorsements, signing up first Ilie Nastase in ’73, and then, in 1978, John McEnroe.

Confident and uncompromising, McEnroe was the perfect partner for Nike as they grew their influence in the game, particularly thanks to his personal championing of the classic Air Trainer 1 in the 80s – a shoe that likely wouldn’t have seen the light of day had he not insisted its prototype be developed into a full design.

After McEnroe came Agassi, Courier, and Sampras. All three had some superb shoes that pushed the boundaries for technology as much as looks, with Agassi’s Air Tech Challenge and Sampras’s Air Oscillate featuring industry-leading engineering, just as Federer and Nadal’s shoes have in more recent times.

Rafa’s signature shoe, the Zoom Vapor Cage, remains available today with its winning combination of performance and durability, while Naomi Osaka’s Zoom GP Turbo follows in the footsteps of Serena’s Flare in leading the way for women’s footwear. Elsewhere, check out the NXT range for the latest tech-focused designs, or if you prefer something simple, lightweight, and comfy, the Lite collection has you covered.

Clay court tennis shoes are specifically designed for optimal performance on clay surfaces. These shoes feature a full herringbone tread pattern on the outsole, which provides superior grip on the slippery clay surface, while also allowing the right amount of slide that clay-court play requires. This pattern also prevents clay from clogging the grooves. Additionally, these shoes are built to offer excellent lateral support for the side-to-side movements typical of clay court play. Enhanced durability is often a design focus as well, due to the abrasive nature of clay courts. Choosing clay court shoes can significantly improve stability and performance.