Tennis has embraced its Y2K trend

The clay tennis season is in full swing and as a result, the aesthetic expressed by players on the court is also changing. Spring represents a temporary parenthesis in which this sport can allow itself more freedom and daring in terms of style, before returning to the elegant standards imposed by the grass season. Lorenzo Musetti, who left Nike to sign with Asics at the beginning of 2025, took advantage of this opportunity by showcasing the new collection created by A.P.C. in collaboration with the sportswear brand at the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. Specifically, it is a white tank top that differs from past models of other brands with more coverage of the shoulders and a wider armhole. A garment that combines the desire to break the rules with the desire to remain true to tradition. The sleeveless shirt is accompanied by shorts of the same color but with softer shapes, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1970s. This kit also came in navy blue and was worn by Musetti during his training session on the central court in Rome on the eve of his debut at the ATP Masters.

It's the Y2K version of tennis. A return to the past, to an aesthetic that is an integral part of the history of tennis. And if at the time of their appearance in the 2000s, at the height of the Federer-Nadal rivalry, they were a tool to break with tradition, this resurgence of tank tops marks a change. A trend that could lead tennis to move away from the concept of quiet luxury that has always characterized it, with the consequence that it could definitively lose its dominance of this field in favor of golf. The aristocracy of Wimbledon will always ensure that tennis is linked to a more elegant and refined lifestyle, and brands will always be forced to make decisions on a case-by-case basis regarding the aesthetics to be adopted by their athletes, such as the example of Nike with Jannik Sinner, a tennis player who will most likely remain faithful to the jersey and shorts combo. Through tennis, brands have a great opportunity to launch a trend that can influence aesthetics even outside the court. Hugo Boss has made its mark through its key ambassador, Matteo Berrettini. While the Italian tennis star has yet to don a tank top during official matches, he has been spotted wearing a sleeveless shirt from the brand's latest collection during training sessions. Other athletes, including Holger Rune and Flavio Cobolli who represent Nike and On respectively, have also embraced the tank top trend in their training gear, highlighting the growing popularity of this style in the sports world.

Tank tops play an important role in the image of tennis, but they have always had a futuristic, almost robotic conception, designed to enhance the physique of the athletes who wear them. This was the case with Nike first with Andre Agassi and Rafa Nadal, and later with Frances Tiafoe and especially Carlos Alcaraz. The same has happened with On in the case of Ben Shelton, whose muscular biceps and bulging veins when hitting the ball are highlighted by the rigid shapes of the tank tops. What A.P.C. has done opens up another dimension, one in which the aesthetics of tennis can distance itself from the classic and move towards a more modern trend without losing the concept of style. It is therefore reasonable to expect other brands active in tennis to follow suit and create sleeveless shirts that nod to the idea that there can also be elegance in wearing a tank top. At that point, it is not even excluded that tank tops could become what jerseys have become in football, a product that can be used in any context and not just on game days.