As we get further into 2023, the tennis communities across the country are getting ready for the new league and tournament seasons. All the major tennis brands refresh their product lines year-round. Have a look below at the best new tennis shoes from Nike, adidas, ASICS, New Balance, and many more.
Updated 8/25/2023
Fila Mondo Forza
While the most prominent Fila shoe on tour is the Axilus Energized, Fila’s latest shoe, the Mondo Forza, is sure to be adopted quickly! The Forza’s aesthetic offers a subtle minimalistic style that harkens back to some coolest basketball shoes of the 1990s. Fila engineered the shoe and stripped away the excess, leaving only the essential features. This design eliminates break-in time and performs with stability speed, and comfort. The midfoot lacing system and rear foot “recaro fit” locks your foot securely inside the shoe, so you have confidence you can track down the next ball.
This shoe offers maximum performance with some nice subtle nods to sustainability. Its midsole unit composition uses a sugarcane base which offers cushion, bounce, and resiliency. Meanwhile, the shoe’s upper is constructed with a leno-weave mesh, comprised of 65% recycled PET. For stability and support, a bottom-loaded wooden deflection plate keeps you feeling connected to the court surface. The most Forza’s most unique feature has to be the outsole design. It features a standard tread on the medial half of the shoe and an almost completely smooth surface on the lateral section. According to Fila, the Forza outsole gives the shoe greater traction at the pivot point to help today’s modern players slide reliably and change direction quickly.
New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally
The Fresh Foam X CT-Rally succeeds the Lav V2 in New Balance’s performance tennis shoe category. The Lav was a very stable shoe, anchored by NB’s Fresh Foam X which offered solid cushioning. The CT-Rally takes the Lav v2 and makes it more dynamic. New Balance drew inspiration from the 3D support systems used in rally cars. It features an elongated throat design which for added flex and breathability. New Balance applied a one-piece woven upper construction, which they borrowed from their stout BB Fresh Hoops basketball line. The CT-Rally is already being worn on tour by Tommy Paul and Jordan Thompson. It is backed by New Balance’s 6-month outsole warranty.
adidas Barricade (2023)
Though the name has not changed, the Barricade received some subtle improvements to make an already good shoe, a great one. The upper now utilizes a “shark skin” material which is both breathable and tough, along with a bolstered recycled boost abrasion zone on the medial side. The refined lacing system makes it easier to get the best fit possible. Plus the ankle collar is more padded than it was previously. Similar to the rest of their performance branding, the adidas text on the medial side has been replaced with the badge of sport logo which definitely looks cleaner. All in all, the Barricade has only gotten better, and it should continue to be a favorite for players of all levels.
adidas Ubersonic 4.1
The Ubersonic was a solid shoe, but adidas tweaked the lacing guidance system and added improved heel support for version 4.1. The shoe is still lightweight and fast around the court, but it is easier to get a solid fit thanks to the improved lacing system with added eyelets at the ankle. Adidas also added some padding to the stretchy sock construction, which does a nice job of keeping the laces from digging into the top of the foot. While not a durability category shoe, a recycled Boost abrasion zone has been added in the toe drag area to help the shoe hold up better against wear and tear.
Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour
On the heels of the very successful Wave Exceed Tour 5, Mizuno adds the Wave Enforce Tour to their tennis shoe lineup. The Enforce Tour uses Dyna-Heel Lock technology which improves the alignment of the ankle, heel, and shoe during movement. The technology integrates with the lacing system to provide a secure fit and premium stability. Mizuno Enerzy Foam is a lightweight cushioning material used in the midsole that is shock-absorbing and produces faster rebound. This model uses the EnerzyCore, which is a soft material for added comfort. Wave technology stabilizes the ankle and redistributes shock to enhance movement on the court. Expect the Enforce Tour to be a little more stable and plush than the Wave Exceed Tour.
Lacoste AG-LT23 Ultra
Lacoste updates Daniil Medvedev‘s shoe of choice, the AG-LT23 Ultra! The lightweight and responsive design evolves to push with Pebax technology to provide energy return via the LSRFoam midsole, which works in tandem with the TPU plate chassis and heel stabilizer. Its upper is constructed of an engineered ‘Pique’ woven mesh for comfort and breathability. This shoe is light enough to cover the court, and it offers impressive durability without being overly heavy.
Lacoste AG-LT23 Lite
Lacoste targets speedsters with the very light and dynamic AG-LT23 Lite! What separates this model from the Ultra is the stretchy sock design, which cradles the foot for a snug and supportive fit. Pebax technology provides energy return via the full-length LSRFoam midsole, which is encased in a Pebax plate for stability. The upper features a transparent, lightweight engineered jacquard, and the outsole works for all surfaces thanks to Lacoste`s brand-new rubber compound, LineGrip. This shoe has already been adopted by several ATP and WTA players!
NikeCourt Vapor 9.5 PRM
Your favorite tennis shoe returns to the scene! The Vapor 9.5 had so many fans, and they were especially vocal when Nike moved on from the 9.5 to the Vapor X. The Vapor X ended up being a solid offering, the 9.5 offered a bit more of a universal fit, and the adaptive fit system which allowed the shoe to fit numerous foot shapes. The shoe was less narrow than the Vapor X and the Vapor Pro that followed, which made it a versatile gameday shoe. The shoe features a cosmetic that pays homage to the champion’s murals of the BNP Paribas Open.
NikeCourt Zoom Vapor 11
Previous iterations of the Vapor reset the market for the lightweight, close-to-the-court game-day shoe. With the Vapor 11, Nike made the toebox and the overall fit a bit wider, giving the shoe more mass appeal. It features bolstered lateral support thanks to the TPU sidewall, which creates better stability when compared with the previous versions. This low-cut shoe offers enough flex and mobility for high-speed transitions. Though the Vapor 11 places your foot close to the playing surface, the Zoom Air unit in the forefoot adds a nice layer of cushioning and rebound. The Vapor 11 is a very high-end performance shoe, and though it has a premium price tag, its comfort, speed, and stability are world-class.
NikeCourt Vapor Pro 2
Last year saw numerous tour pros adopt the Vapor Pro on the biggest courts in the world. The brand sought to deliver frequent tennis players their “favorite tennis shoe”. The Vapor Pro 2 has a softer and more padded tongue than the original Vapor Pro, and there is a little more width as well. This model adds a soft foam midsole to Nike’s trademark Zoom Air cushioning to make the shoe more comfortable than the original. Though the Vapor 11 is more stable, the Vapor Pro 2 offers everything a dedicated tennis player needs, and at a lower price.
On THE ROGER Pro
Known for their distinctive CloudTec® and Speedboard technologies, On brings their trademark engineering in their first performance tennis shoe. They partnered with, you guessed it, Roger Federer, and had an extensive research and development process to develop a shoe worthy of a legend. The shoe offers support that can hold up to any shoe on this list, and the upper construction features a soft-engineered mesh to reduce weight while maintaining comfortable support. The midsole is comprised of high-density performance foam for comfort and stability. The aforementioned 100% carbon fiber Speedboard absorbs impact during landing, and it returns energy for ideal balance on the next step. THE ROGER Pro has been in high demand and out on the market for a while now. Tennis Express proudly offers THE ROGER Pro to our customers beginning February 2023.
adidas Adizero Cybersonic
The Cybersonic is a new shoe from adidas in their Adizero category which includes the popular Ubersonic 4. The Cybersonic helps you track down the next ball with a new innovation called “Energy Rods”. The carbon rods run through the midsole and parallel with the metatarsals to increase propulsion and energy return. The Cybersonic fits like a soccer boot: there is no wasted space, and though the shoe fits very snugly, it is not super narrow either. The upper construction is soft and does an excellent job of adapting to the shape of your foot. Lightstrike foam in the midsole does a nice job of cushioning without making you feel too high off the court surface. Adidas designed the Cybersonic for speed while keeping it very nimble and surprisingly supportive when engaging in the side-to-side nature of tennis.
New Balance 996v5
New Balance has impressive representation in pro tennis now, and the 996 series is a huge reason why. In the 966v5, FuelCell is back and the soft foam creates a comfortable ride in the midsole. The brand has been steadily refining its Ndure upper material over the previous versions of the 996, and this model offers a bit more abrasion protection and support in the v5. Fans of the 996 can also expect more lateral stability with this model, but without weighing the shoe down too much. The 996v5 from New Balance is a fast shoe with soft cushioning, and the six-month outsole warranty makes this shoe an excellent value for tennis players who are hard on their footwear.
ASICS Court FF 3
The ASICS Court FF 3 was created with input from Novak Djokovic, who is one of the most efficient movers in tennis history. In this update, ASICS increased the outsole’s contact area for more stable landings and reduced load on the athlete. The TWISTRUSS™ system creates added stability and quickness during shot recovery and when prepping for the next ball. The Monosock construction continues to be one of the industry’s most comfortable, and the updated upper design is a bit more form-fitting than the previous model. The COURT FF 3 offers the rare combination of stability, but with enough flex to help you adjust your game on the fly.
ASICS GEL-Resolution 9
The GEL-Resolution remains a staple for tennis players of all levels for over a decade now. The shoe still carries a 6-month-outsole warranty, which is less and less common these days. For version 9, ASICS extended their DYNAWALL™ technology further toward the heel, resulting in improved stability during lateral movements. ASICS’ separated outsole design creates more stable landings and the DYNAFIT™ upper improves the flex around the foot for greater comfort. As with the GEL-Resolution 8, the 9 fits true to size and is a little narrower than average. The GEL-Resolution continues to be one the most stable and durable performance tennis shoes on the market.
Diadora Finale
The Finale from Diadora gives the brand a solid tennis shoe aside from the B.Icon and Blushield Torneo and Fly. The upper construction consists of Suprelltech + Air Mesh + PU transfer for excellent stability, breathability, and comfort. The insole features a shockproof EVA foam and a light EVA midsole with arch support to improve stability. The outsole design includes Diadora’s Duratech 5000 rubber compound, which gives the Finale a balance of lightweight comfort and support. The Finale makes a great shoe not only for club players but for high-performance players as well.
Babolat Propulse Fury 3
While the Propulse Fury has been a very stable shoe over the last few years, it has never been this comfortable. The Propulse Fury’s improved comfort starts in the heel, thanks to KPRSX 2. The EVA foam is softer to absorb shock during movement. 360 FIT incorporates the tongue right into the shoe design, providing just the right amount of comfort and support. To protect the upper of the Fury, Babolat applied a polyurethane finish, GEN-PROTECT, which further supports the foot as well. The Propulse Fury is a premium shoe from Babolat. It offers comfort, support, style, and durability thanks to the 6-month outsole warranty.
Be sure to check out this blog throughout the year for the newest tennis shoe releases from the biggest brands on the market.
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