Tennis players are very particular about their gear. Racquets, strings, shoes, you name it. Every small detail matters. Once they find something that works, they rarely change it.
Sponsored players are often pushed to use the latest models. New designs. New tech. It helps with marketing and sales, but that does not always mean the gear is actually better for the player.
Some pros prefer to stick with what they know. Frames they grew up with. Setups they trust under pressure. The same goes for their shoes. It is about feel, confidence, and familiarity. Winning matters more than using the newest release.
Here are a few examples of players who keep using shoes that the feel help them perform best on the court. Proof that in tennis, old but gold is very real.
Stan Wawrinka- Yonex Eclipsion 4
Wawrinka is a perfect example of a player who rarely changes his equipment. To start, he still uses the Yonex VCORE 95D, a racquet released nearly 15 years ago. The same thinking applies to his shoes. Stan the Man wears the Yonex Eclipsion 4, a model that has been around for a few years now. It is built for stability and durability, not flash. The shoe offers a wide base, strong lateral support, and a secure lockdown. The Eclipsion 4 is a safe and reliable option especially for a player in his 40s who is still competing at the top level.
Taylor Fritz- Asics Gel Resolution 9
Taylor Fritz continues to wear the Asics Gel Resolution 9, even though most of the Asics sponsored athletes that choose the Gel Resolution line are wearing the 10th edition, which offers more stability due to the extended Dynawall technology in the medial side. However, Fritz clearly feels the GR9 gives him everything he needs.
Tommy Paul, Jordan Thompson and Aleksandar Kovacevic – New Balance CT Rally v1
Tommy Paul makes his return to tennis sporting the latest Yonex VCORE paint job, yet still wearing the New Balance CT Rally v1. Paul had a tough 2025 after suffering a foot injury during Wimbledon. This may be a big reason as to why he decides to stick with a pair he knows and trusts. This is interesting because he has a customized pair, done by Joel Greenspan and Angelus Direct, of the CT Rally v2 that had been made just for him for this event.
Paul is not the only New Balance sponsored athlete who continues to choose the first edition. Jordan Thompson has also been seen wearing the CT Rally v1 painted to look like the v2 colorway. Aleksander Kovacevic also continues to wear the white and forest green colorway of the CT Rally v1- one of the cleanest colorways New Balance has released!
Various Vapors
Nick Kyrgios – Nike Vapor 9
Nick Kyrgios was another athlete sporting an older shoe model at the Garden Cup. Kyrgios recently parted ways with long-time sponsor Nike and now reps his own clothing line, Stack Athletics, and could be one reason he freely chooses which shoe model he wears on court, this opting for the Vapor 9- which is touted as one of the best Vapors ever released. Despite choosing an older model, a custom pair of the Nike Vapor 12 was made for him by Joel Greenspan and Angelus Direct specifically for the event. It’s a very similar situation to Tommy Paul.
Denis Shapovalov – Nike Vapor X
Denis Shapovalov’s vapor of choice continues to be the Vapor X. Given his explosive and aggressive style of play, the Vapor X is known for being lightweight and fast, with an open engineered mesh upper that keeps things breathable and flexible on court.
Holger Rune – Vapor Pro 1
Rune last played at the Nordic Cup and, unfortunately, ruptured his Achilles tendon which ended his season early. During the year, he spent some time on court testing the Nike Vapor 12, but in the end, Rune decided to go back to his trusty Vapor Pro 1 which has been his main choice for a while. The big question is this: will the injury change his shoe selection when he returns? Some players switch shoes after a layoff while others stick with what they know. With Rune, it will be about feel and confidence first. Only time will tell if the comeback brings a new model or maybe even something fully customized.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – Vapor 11
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard rocks the Nike Vapor 11 and it fits his big, aggressive game very well. The Vapor 11 sits low to the court and feels fast underfoot, which helps him explode into big serves and quick first steps. It has a forefoot Zoom Air unit that gives a springy, responsive feel when he moves forward or shifts direction, and a TPU sidewall that provides solid lateral stability for those heavy baseline sprints and slides.
Karen Khachanov – Vapor Pro 2
Karen Khachanov continues to wear the Nike Vapor Pro 2. A show that sits low to the ground giving him a connected, responsive feel. The forefoot Zoom Air unit helps with explosive first steps, the mesh upper keeps things breathable but supportive, and the herringbone outsole balances grip and slide. He’s been spotted wearing the Vapor Pro 3 at the Nike Court Just Do It event in Beijing this year, but in matches he sticks with the Vapor 2.
Kei Nishikori – Custom Vapor 9.5
This list would not be complete without mentioning Japanese legend, Kei Nishikori. He has long endorsed Nike’s Vapor line, but what he actually wears on court isn’t always the same as the shoes you see in stores. Various sources online mentions that his pairs often combine elements from the Vapor 9.5 and Vapor X, and come with custom touches that suit his quick movement and footwork.
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