In era where many female athletes are as popular and as celebrated as their male peers, it is hard to believe that women have only been competing in sports for a few hundred years.  They were banned from the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C., a decision that set a terrible precedent, since it resulted in prejudice. Girls who wanted to play with the boys were often looked down upon and called "tomboys" or "outdoorsy."

In Victorian England, women of means played games like croquet. Because it was not an active game and did not cause them to perspire, it was deemed an acceptable activity for highborn ladies. Most of them played with their husbands or male suitors.  Since there was no such thing as sportwear at the time, most women played croquet in frilly, full-skirted dresses and oversized hats.  They did not complain about the lack of activewear for women until a new sport came on the scene.

While it has a number of predecessors, the modern game of tennis originated in the late nineteenth century in England. It is one of the few sports that women competed in almost from the start. Although they were not permitted to compete as professionals in the early days, the game was extremely popular with women on both sides of the Atlantic.

A decade after the first professional tennis tournament was held, the Wimbledon championships (1877), women were invited to play. Shortly thereafter, they were permitted to compete at every major international tennis tournament, including the US Open and the French Open.  Tennis was one of the few sports that was almost as popular with women as it was with men.  It would not be a stretch to suggest that the game of tennis is responsible for the growth and success of female athletics around the world. 

Why is this?

Because of its popularity and appeal, makers of athletic gear were finally forced to design sportswear for women.   No, they didn't look anything like the outfits professional female tennis players wear today.  Believe it or not, the first women's tennis clothing included full-length dresses.  A female athlete by the name of Henry "Bunny" Austin caused quite a stir at Wimbledon in 1932 when she showed up in a pair of shorts!  Spectators and players alike became more accepting of new fashions and attire after that.

With that said, there's a difference between men's and women's tennis clothing.  It may be stereotypical, but the truth is that most guys couldn't care less what they look like when they're working out. They show up at the gym or the court in dirty sweat pants with holes in the knees and ripped t-shirts. Nobody ever compliments them on their attire because real men aren't supposed to care about that kind of stuff. Well, real women do!

Whether they're on the court or in the locker room, women want sportswear that lets them play just as hard as the guys without sacrificing style.  They want comfortable materials that will not creep and provide moisture control.  It also doesn't hurt if they're "cute" or "stylish." 

Where to find them?

There are many reputable sellers that offer women's tennis clothes to shoppers on the internet. Because they are able to cut overhead expensive through online selling, they often sell women's tennis clothes at discount prices.