When tennis players from the 19th century hiked up their trousers, they showed off something that has fascinated fans for well over 100 years: tennis shoes. But just as those trousers and corset-layered dresses gave way to short shorts, the tennis skirt, and even a bodysuit here and there (yeah, we’re talking Serena Williams and Puma-crafted kits), the tennis shoe took on an evolution like no other sneaker has seen.  

About 150 years of history will do that. 

To get from the street style of the mid-1800s to the court style of the 21st century required the sport to modernize, both in design and technology. Some shoes best epitomized that shift and set new standards for the sport. We explore that journey here, dipping into history, nostalgia, and hot lava to highlight the tennis shoe, the most fascinating sneaker style in sports.