Wilson · Tennis Equipment
RF 01 Pro Racket
Federer's frame, reissued. Heavy, precise, unforgiving in the best way.
$100–$250
Get It Here →The Tennis Boyfriend · /tennis-style-and-gear/
The Tennis Boyfriend: whites, cable knits and one serious racket
Tennis style is the most durable of the country-club aesthetics because it barely changed in seventy years: white, a collar, a cable-knit sweater with a stripe at the neck. It also crossed over into normal clothing more successfully than golf ever did.
On the equipment side there is one honest warning. The Wilson RF frames are heavy and precise and they punish a beginner. Buy them for someone who plays weekly and talks about string tension, not for someone starting out.
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The racket, if he can handle it
Small head, high mass, rewards a clean strike. Do not buy this for a beginner.
The training partner
Adjustable speed, spin, oscillation and elevation, battery powered. He will improve, which is more than most gifts can promise.
Lobster Sports · Tennis Equipment
Elite Three Ball Machine
A hitting partner who never cancels and never wants to talk.
$1,000+
Buy This for Him →
The look
The cable knit over the shoulders is the whole aesthetic in one garment.
Polo Ralph Lauren · Men's Knitwear
Washable Cashmere Crewneck
Cashmere he cannot ruin in the laundry. Instant Ralph Lauren boyfriend.
$250–$500
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Picks from neighbouring collections that fit the same brief.
TAG Heuer · Men's Watches
Carrera Chronograph Automatic
The fastest way to make him a watch guy. Wears with a suit or a hoodie.
$1,000+
Shop Now →
Versace · Men's Watches
Anteo Gold Bracelet Watch
For the boyfriend whose wrist deserves a personality. Loud in the right way.
$500–$1,000
Shop the Pick →
Creed · Men's Cologne & Fragrance
Aventus Eau de Parfum
The compliment magnet. If he owns one cologne, it should be this one.
$250–$500
Shop the Look →
Polo Ralph Lauren · Men's Outerwear
Maxwell Lambskin Leather Jacket
Brown lambskin, cut like a shirt jacket. The grown-up leather jacket.
$1,000+
Shop the Pick →
Tennis Style FAQ
What racket should I buy my boyfriend?
If he plays weekly and has real technique, a heavier player's frame like the Wilson RF 01 Pro. If he plays occasionally, buy a lighter, larger-headed racket instead — a pro frame in a casual player's hand causes injuries, not improvement.
Is a tennis ball machine worth it?
For anyone practising alone, it is the single most effective purchase available. It never cancels, it repeats the same ball a hundred times, and it fixes technique faster than a weekly hitting partner.
What is classic tennis style?
White shorts, a white polo, a cable-knit sweater with a coloured stripe at the V, and plain leather-look sneakers. Wimbledon still enforces most of it, which is why it never dates.