So you have decided to indulge and pick up a racquet. Whether tennis stars like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe have inspired you or the current tenniscore trend has you curious, it seems like this is the year to be on the courts. Well, you can’t play without a starter pack. From tennis shoe recommendations to sunscreen, we’ve carefully curated a list of necessary items that are all BIPOC founded and owned.
Sunscreen
You should not go anywhere this summer without sunscreen, especially not on the tennis court. Stay protected from the sun with sunscreen from this list. From tennis champion Naomi Osaka to tulip-infused sunscreen. This list is diverse and will keep your skin safe.
Black Girl Sunscreen by Shontay Lundy
Kinlo by Naomi Osaka
Buttah Sunscreen by Dorien Renaud
Cay Skin by Winnie Harlow
Bloomeffects Skincare by Kim van Haaster
Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Just like sunscreen, it is essential to own a stainless steel water bottle. It's a win for the environment and your water stays ice cold the entire match.
SUPLMNT (Black Owned)
Wondery (BIPOC Owned and Women-led)
Elemental (BIPOC Owned)
Apparel
If you’re looking for the perfect picture-worthy but also practical outfit to play in, Recreation Habits has you covered. Recreational Habits embodies the spirit of the game while remaining true to their purpose. The company states, “We created Recreational Habits to bring the exclusive world of the preppy elite and their hobbies to the historically excluded.” Aside from creating the perfect tennis skirt, the husband and wife duo also collaborate with local organizations to bring their vision to life of making the sport more accessible.
(1st Picture: Social posting from Instagram 2nd Picture: Co-Founders Marlon and Jackie Skye Muller)
Shoes
Arguably one of the most important pieces in your tennis wardrobe. You need a shoe that is fashionable, comfortable, and protects you from injury. Here are two options from two champs, and currently the only two American players on tour that have their own shoe deals.
Coco Gauff New Balance CG1 (Unisex Sizes)
Naomi Osaka NikeCourt Air Zoom GP Turbo Osaka (Women's Sizes)
Naomi Osaka Nike GP Challenge 1 Premium (Women’s Hard Court Tennis Shoes)
(Courtesy of Nike's website, Naomi Osaka Nike GP Challenge 1 Premium)
Racquet Bag
There are so many tennis bags on the market from mega brands like Nike to small independent businesses. Sam Louise by Dana Davis is black and women-owned. In an interview with USTA she states while playing, “I was looking for a fashionable bag and never found exactly what I was looking for,” Davis said. 'I figured, I will have to create one.”
Racquet
This specific area of sporting goods is dominated by mega brands like Wilson, Head, and Prince. Therefore, our current pick is Wilson because of their commitment to our communities. Wilson has committed to working with USTA to provide greater access to sports amongst BIPOC and underprivileged communities. The brand has committed to donating 100,000 pieces of apparel and gear, as well as working alongside small businesses and creators to uplift the voices of those in these communities.
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