Jack Draper Swapped Nike for Vuori, So I Decided to Give It a Go
Growing up in the UK, tennis and summer are practically the same word. Wimbledon has a way of making everyone want to pick up a racket, and a few years ago, I finally did.
I play casually at my local club – nothing too competitive, just a couple of hits a week and the occasional social doubles match – but I take it seriously enough to care about how I show up.
For a long time, what I was wearing on court was an afterthought. I would reach for whatever workout clothes were clean, but end up spending half the match tugging at my waistband or readjusting my top.
I’ve tried a few well-known brands over the years. Some looked great off court but fell apart under pressure. Others performed fine but felt stiff, synthetic, or just a bit joyless. Nothing ever quite clicked…
How I Found Vuori
I’d heard about Vuori a while back, and I assumed it would be like other brands I’d tried. But when Jack Draper (Britain’s own No. 1) left Nike to partner with Vuori, it made me take a closer look. Draper is someone who thinks carefully about how he presents himself, on and off court, so I figured if it was good enough for him, it was worth a go.
Vuori’s tennis collection wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t aggressive or overly technical-looking. It was considered – elevated fabrics, clean lines, the kind of kit that actually looks nice without trying too hard. The brand’s California roots are definitely felt: there’s an ease to the aesthetic that most performance brands miss entirely.
I ordered a few pieces and fell in love.
What I’ve Been Wearing
The fabric is genuinely soft against my skin – not that stiff, synthetic feel that a lot of activewear defaults to – but it still has the stretch I need when I’m moving at speed. For the first time in a while, I stopped thinking about what I was wearing mid-rally.
My first proper match-day piece was the Tiebreak Halter Dress. It looks exactly like something you’d want to wear on and off the court – the halter neckline and the flouncy cut – and it performs brilliantly. The BreatheInterlock™ fabric is matte and weightless, the built-in shelf bra and liner mean I’m covered without having to layer, and there’s the all-important ball pocket, so I’m not improvising mid-serve. I wore it straight to coffee with the girls afterwards, and nobody would have known it had just survived two sets.
For tennis lessons, gym sessions, and even runs, I’ve been reaching for the AllTheFeels™ Tank 2.0. The BlissBlend™ fabric is buttery, and it’s so versatile that I can wear it for any workout – not just on the court
The piece that’s probably getting the most wear, though, is the Baseline Gingham Skirt. The gingham print is a lovely nod to classic tennis style without feeling costume-y, and practically, it delivers everything I’d want in a tennis skirt: moisture-wicking fabric, 4-way stretch, built-in shorts, and dual pockets – one for my phone, the other for a tennis ball. It’s high-rise, so it stays put no matter how much I’m moving.
Why Vuori Is Different
What Vuori has figured out is something the activewear market has been trying to nail for years: clothes that genuinely do double duty without sacrificing performance or style.
For tennis specifically, that means fabrics that move with me rather than against me (critical for a sport that demands constant direction changes), combined with styles that look great. There’s a reason Jack Draper chose this brand over the giants.
I ended up buying a few pieces for my partner too, who competes at club level and is notoriously hard to convince when it comes to kit. Yet he’s been constantly reaching for the Kore Short and Strato Tech Polo for match days, as well as the Ponto Performance Tee for training sessions and the gym. It’s safe to say that I’ve converted him to Vuori too.
The Verdict
If you play tennis – whether it’s casually, competitively, or anywhere in between – and you’ve been making do with activewear that wasn’t exactly designed for the sport, Vuori‘s tennis collection is worth trying. The feeling of wearing something that just works, without having to think about it, is more valuable than it sounds.
Vuori describes itself as a new perspective on performance apparel. After a few months of wearing it on court, I’d say that’s about right.
