The 15 Best Tennis Skirts That’ll Have You Playing (And Styling) Like a Pro

In a sea of retro trends making a comeback, most of us are have given our closets a retro makeover. We’ve got our Princess Di bike shorts,  our oversized sweatshirts, our classic tie dye sets. All that’s missing? A flouncy, sporty tennis skirt, of course.

Now that the world is slowly but surely starting to open up again, it’s an ideal time to explore equally comfortable outfits that are just a little bit more elevated with some feminine flair, which all of the best tennis skirts we’ve found lately have to spare. Sure, they may have once served (pardon the pun) prep school, by way of Newport, energy. But now, they are a perfect piece to dress up or down since they’re sporty, cute, versatile, and playful—a well-rounded do-all piece no wardrobe should go without.

Best tennis skirts at a glance

• Best overallt: Nike, NikeCourt Dri-FIT Victory Tennis Skirt, $52
• Best cooling: Adidas, Tennis Match Skirt, $55
• Best wrap skirt: Eleven by Venus Williams, Fly Skirt , $78
• Best A-line: Alo, Match Point Tennis Skirt, $68
• Best relaxed fit: Girlfriend Collective, Birdie Woven Skort, $58
• Best anti-odor: Wilson, Midtown Tennis Skirt , $68
• Best high-waisted: Free People, Pleats and Thank You Short, $78
• Best mid-weight: Outdoor Voices, Court Skort 4.5”, $58
• Best sculpting: Spanx, Get Moving Skort, $72
• Best mid-rise: Lululemon, Pace Rival Mid Rise Skirt, $78
• Best high-rise: Girlfriend Collective, Sport Skort, $62
• Best affordable: Halara, Everyday Cloudful Air Crossover Lucid Skirt, $25
• Best longer length: Athleta, Ace Tennis Skort 15.5”, $69
• Best pleated: Alo, Varsity Tennis Skirt, $48
• Best mesh: Eleven by Venus Williams, Outskirt High Waist Mesh Skort, $84

What to look for in a tennis skirt

Although tennis skirts have entered the mainstream, make no mistake, they still need to be functional. You don’t have to play tennis to wear one, but if you are, it needs to be the right one. Just ask Maya Jacobs, a marketing program specialist who recently graduated from Rutgers University where she played Division 1 women’s tennis throughout her collegiate career. Jacobs has worn her fair share of tennis skirts, on and off the court.

“Arguably they’re the most fashionable uniform. But if there aren’t shorts underneath, they’re not worth your time,” Jacobs explains. “The shorts make all the difference. They’re what allows you to run around the court while holding your phone and extra balls.” After all, you already have your hands full with a tennis racket.

Jacobs isn’t too picky about brands, although she spent most of her time in Adidas since the team was sponsored by them. But she is definitely picky about the fit, specifically these three main components:

• Length: “The most flattering skirts are medium length—the longer the ones look a little weird and don’t allow you to move around as much,” she says. Your skirt should hit around the upper thigh, giving you unrestricted movement to run, dive, and jump. “And tuck in your shirt,” says Jacobs.
• Compression: As Jacobs mentions, your tennis skirt should actually be a skort lined with shorts. These shorts should be compressive enough to add support and protection while serving as extra storage for objects like balls and phones (bonus if they pockets.) But the skirt itself shouldn’t be too tight, otherwise you won’t be able to move. Jacobs likes the flouncy feeling of the pleated skirts, but if you do go for the slimmer A-line style, just make sure you have enough room to move around.
• Size: Your comfort level should be a grand slam at all times.”If it’s too big you’re going to spend the whole time [playing] stopping to pull it up,” Jacobs says. “And if it’s too small you won’t able to move.” Play around with sizing and pay attention to waistbands that are compressive and sit at the waist without rolling up or sliding around.

The best tennis skirts to add to your warm-weather wardrobe ASAP

Best overall: Nike, NikeCourt Dri-FIT Victory Tennis Skirt — $52.00

Nike is one of Jacobs’ go-to brands for its quality and fit. If you’re looking for a skirt to wear on and off the court, the Victory is a solid bet. The thicker, mid-rise waistband is there for a secure fit, while the subtle pleating is timeless and swishes just right. Best part is, it’s made with at least 75 percent recycled fibers, making it a grand slam for your wardrobe and the planet.

Material: 88% polyester, 12% spandex

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Black, white

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Inner shorts
• Side slit

Cons:

• No pockets

Best cooling: Adidas, Tennis Match Skirt — $55.00

As mentioned, Jacobs spent much of her collegiate career wearing Adidas tennis skirts, so you know they’re up to snuff. Goldilocks reviewers tout this skirt for being not too long, not too short, not too loose, and not too tight. In other words, it fits just right. The fabric is soft, stretchy, and sweat-wicking, so it’ll keep you dry and odor-free on and off of the courts.

Material: 100% recycled polyester doubleknit

Sizes: 2XS–XL

Colors: Black

Pros:

• Cooling fabric
• Inner tights
• Mesh inner layer

Cons:

• No pockets

Best wrap skirt: Eleven by Venus Williams, Fly Skirt — $78.00

This skort is timeless, functional, and it’s—oh yeah—designed by an actual tennis pro! If you’re serious about the sport, this piece is way worth the investment. That’s thanks to the little details in the design, like the internal ball pockets on each side and the stretchy fabric (made from recycled water bottles) that wicks sweat in minutes. Even if your game isn’t as good as Venus Williams’, you’ll sure feel like it is.

Material: 83% polyester repreve, 17% wpandex

Sizes: XS–XXL

Colors: Black, white, navy

Pros:

• Built-in shorts
• Ball pockets on both sides
• Asymmetric wrap for more freedom of movement

Cons:

• Shorter in length

Best A-line: Alo, Match Point Tennis Skirt — $68.00

You know Alo for its celebrity-approved yoga pants, and this flouncy skirt is just as good. Its simple, A-line silhouette is the perfect option to dress up with a longer top or sweater for a summery picnic or outdoor dining moment or to wear with a sporty crop or sports bra on the courts. The length is flirty and flattering, and the comfy inner short even has a pocket to keep all of you essentials handy.

Material: Not listed

Sizes: XXS–L

Colors: 5

Pros:

• Flowy fit
• Inner shorts
• Hidden pocket

Cons:

• Some reviewers say the material is thin

Best sustainable: Girlfriend Collective, Birdie Woven Skort — $58.00

The Girlfriend Woven Skort is a versatile, relaxed fit skort that’s perfect for tennis (or just lounging by the pool). It’s got everything you need for performance (inner shorts, pockets on the side, and breathable material), and it also looks really dang cute. Machine wash cold to keep it in good shape—and hang to dry. It comes in a wide range of sizes and you can also feel good about shopping for this skort, as it’s made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.

Material: 100% recycled plastic bottles

Sizes: XXS–6XL

Colors: 3 essential, 2 limited

Pros:

• Relaxed fit
• Inner shorts
• Mesh pockets

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it runs small

Best anti-odor: Wilson, Midtown Tennis Skirt — $68.00

You’re bound to be best dressed at your next match in this pleated Wilson skirt. For starters, it’s adorable—that vintage stripe?! We’re in love. But the no-brainer comes from its anti-odor technology which physically stops stink from growing on your skirt, and in turn, stops you from stinking, too. That means you can wear it game after game and it’ll still smell like it did on laundry day.

Material: 88% polyester, 12% spandex

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Black, white

Pros:

• Anti-odor
• Seamless interior short
• Ball pocket

Cons:

• Ball pocket is only on the left side

Best high-waisted: Free People, Pleats and Thank You Short — $78.00

Want a color besides black or blue? Free People has a rainbow of actives skorts to choose from, all that feature a high-rise waist band and fun, tonal seam detailing for a unique take on the classic tennis skirt. Great for lounging, moving (and grooving), or a relaxed day at home—it’s a perfect versatile option.

Material: 89% polyester, 11% elastane

Sizes: XS–L

Colors: 10

Pros:

• Built-in shorts
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Shorter in length

Best mid-weight: Outdoor Voices, Court Skort 4.5" — $58.00

You’re going to “love” this medium-coverage skort, pun very intended. It’s made in a lightweight, quick-drying, recycled polyester fabric for comfort that is also kind to the planet. It also features an easy to pull on, comfortable, knit waistband, and a built-in short liner (a must) for extra security.

Material: 86% polyester, 14% spandex

Sizes: XXS–XXXL

Colors: Black, white, dove, navy

Pros:

• Mid-weight, compression fabric
• Built-in shorts
• Phone pocket

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it runs large in the waist

Best sculpting: Spanx, Get Moving Skort — $72.00

A Spanx skort?! Yes, please. In addition to its signature booty-boosting fabric, this Spanx skort has just about everything: pockets for your keys, phone, and other essentials, sweat-wicking fabric, and a mid-thigh short liner. Tag on the chafe-free fabric and you’ll never feel any of that, ahem, summertime uncomfiness again.

Material: 68% nylon, 32% elastane

Sizes: XS–3X

Colors: Black, white, navy

Pros:

• Sculpting inner shorts
• Zip back pocket and side pocket
• Sweat-wicking

Cons:

• Shorter in length

Best mid-rise: Lululemon, Pace Rival Mid Rise Skirt — $78.00

Lululemon knows activewear. The Pace Rival skirt is designed for tennis, but made to tackle whatever your day has in store thanks to its is mid-rise, lightweight design that’s supremely breathable and stretchy. It swaps the classic pleats for a stacked seams making it a little more fitted than other styles, but it’s just as friendly when mobility comes into play.

Material: 87% nylon, 13% Lycra elastane

Sizes: 0–14 and three lengths (12″, 15″, 17″)

Colors: 9

Pros:

• Built-in shorts
• Back zip pocket and side pockets
• Sweat-wicking

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it runs small

Best high-rise: Girlfriend Collective, Sport Skort — $62.00

Warning: If you slip this skirt on, you might not ever take it off. It’s that comfortable and versatile, making it a go-to outfit for almost y any occasion. It’s one of the most sustainable options on this list (it’s made from 23 recycled plastic water bottles) and its sprawling size availability makes it one of the most inclusive, too. Trust us—you’ll want one in every color available.

Material: 79% recycled plastic bottles, 21% spandex

Sizes: XXS–6XL

Colors: 5 essential, 2 limited

Pros:

• Inner shorts
• Mesh pockets
• Side slits

Cons:

• Some reviewers say they run small

Best affordable: Halara, Everyday Cloudful Air Crossover Lucid Skirt — $25.00

Want a quality skirt on a budget? Add this one from Halara to your cart. It’s stylish and super functional, crafted with everything you want out of a practical tennis skirt, including those built-in shorts and side pockets. Bonus: that crossover waistband that gives you added support whether you’re diving for balls or diving to the couch.

Material: 77% nylon and 23% elastane

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: 30

Pros:

• Built-in shorts
• Side pockets
• Breathable

Cons:

• Shorter in length

Best longer length: Athleta, Ace Tennis Skort 15.5" — $69.00

Athleta sells a wide variety of athleisure skirts, but if you’re looking for one for the courts, the Ace Tennis Skort is, well, an ace. Its 15.5-inch inseam make it an ideal length for exercise and sports, while its fun, airy silhouette make it a fashionable enough for everyday wear. And it comes in classic or bright colors to spice things up.

Material: Recycled polyester, spandex

Sizes: XS–3X

Colors: 5

Pros:

• 3 pockets
• Built-in shorts
• Internal hem grippers

Cons:

• Some reviewers say the skirt is too full

Best pleated: Alo, Varsity Tennis Skirt — $48.00

Pleated and preppy, this Alo tennis skirt will keep you looking stylish whether you’re serving the ball or serving looks. It has a classic look, built-in shorts, and a hidden pocket.  It’s made with a lightweight fabric and has a 14.5-inch length to keep up with all your outdoor activities.

Material: 92% polyester, 8% spandex

Sizes: S–L

Colors: Black, white, magenta

Pros:

• Built-in shorts
• Hidden pockets

Cons:

• Thinner material

Best mesh: Eleven by Venus Williams, Outskirt High Waist Mesh Skort — $84.00

For a super breathable tennis skirt, you can’t get much more lightweight than mesh. This tennis skirt from Venus Williams’ line has inner shorts with side pockets, and a mesh overlay on top. Even on the hottest days, this skirt will keep you cool.

Material: 75% polyester, 25% spandex

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Black, white, navy

Pros:

• Breathable mesh overlay
• Built-in shorts
• Side pockets

Cons:

• Skirt is shorter in length

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