1.
With over two weeks of high-voltage tennis already in the books, action at the US Open will come to a close after this weekend. But before everything is said and done, and all that remains is memories of what happened and what could have been, let’s take a moment to relish the last major tournament of the tennis season.
Following our breakdown of the sneakers worn on the men’s side, this time around we shift our focus to the most notable sneakers worn by women’s singles players at the 2013 edition of the US Open.
Tennis, more than any other sports, is one in which brands have seemingly paid closer attention to the specific footwear needs of female athletes. While popular shoes like the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 and Asics Gel-Solution Speed have been spotted across both genders, a new breed of women’s-specific tennis shoes—like the adidas Stella McCartney Barricade and Nike Air Max Mirabella 3—have popped up, particularly over the past couple of years. Take a look.
Gurvinder Singh Gandu is a New York City-based writer and wear-tester for Sneaker Report, and contributor to Complex Media. Follow him @GurvinderSG for the latest in performance footwear and gear.
RELATED: The 25 Most Notable Sneakers Worn by US Open Men’s Singles Champions
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2.
Fila Sentinel
Worn by: Jelena Jankovic, Julia Goerges
The Fila Sentinal continues to be a force on both the ATP and WTA tours. A shoe that has been held in high regard by Sneaker Report, it's easy to see why more and more pros are lacing up in the latest tennis model from Fila.
3.
Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11
Worn by: Aleksandra Wozniack
Aleksandra Wozniack's choice of the Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11 is a prime example of why some players prefer to go with what works for them—even if there's an updated version of the shoe available. The Zoom Breathe 2K11 is basically a running shoe trapped in a tennis shoe. It has excellent stability, and is designed for quick pivots and direction changes.
4.
Adidas Climacool adiZero Tempaia 2.0
Worn by: Ana Ivanovic, Christina McHale
Much like the Stella McCartney Barricade, the Climacool adiZero Tempaia 2.0 is yet another women's exclusive tennis shoe from the Three Stripes. The shoe features a lightweight yet durable upper, along with Climacool technology for 360-degree cooling, making it an ideal choice for hard court surfaces like the ones at Flushing Meadows.
5.
Peak Tennis Shoes
Worn by: Olga Govorstova
By now, Peak Sports is well-known in the basketball industry, but it looks like the international footwear brand is looking to do damage on the tennis courts as well. While Olga Govorstova has her own signature line with Peak, it looks like the Belarus native went with a different model for the US Open.
6.
Babolat Propulse 4
Worn by: Alize Cornet
French international Alize Cornet was spotted wearing this predominantly red pair of Babolat Propulse 4 sneakers in the early rounds of the US Open. Since Andy Roddick's departure last year, the Propulse 4 hasn't been in the spotlight as much as it should in recent tournaments, but perhaps Cornet can be that player—at least on the women's side.
7.
Li-Ning Tennis Shoes
Worn by: Jie Zheng
By the looks of Jie Zheng's unidentified Li-Ning sneakers at the US Open, it's evident the Chinese sportswear brand does in fact make tennis shoes. The only problem is, they're not marketed all that well, at least not in the Western part of the world anyway. While we're familiar with other Li-Ning tennis models, such as the Li-Ning Professional, or the Pro Competition, Zheng's pair seems to be available exclusively in the Asian footwear market.
8.
Nike Lunar Speed 3
Worn by: Mandy Minella
Luxembourg's Mandy Minella is know for her quick, aggressive style of play, as are the Nike Lunar Speed 3 sneakers on her feet. While the all-white shoes may not be the flashiest on the court, they are a performance powerhouse, particularly when it comes to lightweight support. The shoe's Flywire upper and Lunarlon cushioning are a deadly combo.
9.
Under Armour Micro G
Worn by: Sloane Stephens
You know that thing about the Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11 being a running shoe trapped in a tennis shoe's body? Well the Under Armour Micro G is literally a running shoe that has found its way into the wrong sport, the only thing is, it looks like American up-and-comer Sloane Stephens didn't get that memo. Regardless, the shoe has held up surprisingly well on the tennis court, not to mention it's easy on the eyes.
10.
Asics Gel-Solution Speed
Worn by: Victoria Duval, Sachia Vickery, Coco Vandeweghe
Built for players with quick footwork, the Asics Gel-Solution Speed has been a popular hit amongst young players in recent tournaments. Americans Victoria Duval and Sachia Vickery are two of many women's players who've adopted the shoe as their own.
11.
Lotto Raptor Ultra IV
Worn by: Ekaterina Makarova, Carla Suarez Navarro, Angieszka Radwanska
Lotto tennis doesn't get a whole lot of love amongst Americans, but the brand seems to be a big hit in the international circuit. The Raptor Ultra IV, especially, is a popular shoe choice on both the men's and women's side.
12.
Nike Air Max Mirabella 3
Worn by: Serena Williams
The Nike Air Max Mirabella 3 is designed for players with a lot of power. In other words, Nike may as well it name it the Air Serena Williams. The go-to shoe for the most dominant women's tennis player in history, the Air Mirabella 3 has held its own on some of the biggest stages in the sport.
13.
adidas Stella McCartney Barricade
Worn by: Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Kirilenko, Francesca Schiavone, Kristen Flipkens, Laura Robson, Julia Glushko, Angelique Kerber
Along with the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 the adidas Stella McCartney Barricade has been the most popular tennis shoe amongst women's singles players at this year's US Open—it's easy to see why. The Stella Barricade is the perfect blend of high-level performance and a clean, fashion forward design to match.
14.
Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour
Worn by: Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, Sabine Lisicki, Sara Errani, Madison Keys, Roberta Vinci
No surprise here, the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour is arguably one of the best tennis shoes of the past decade. It's worn by some of the top women's singles players in the world, including Victoria Azarenka (who'll face Serena Williams at the US Open final this weekend), Sabine Lisciki, and American Madison Keys.
Gurvinder Singh Gandu is a New York City-based writer and wear-tester for Sneaker Report, and contributor to Complex Media. Follow him @GurvinderSG for the latest in performance footwear and gear.
RELATED: The 25 Most Notable Sneakers Worn by US Open Men’s Singles Champions
RELATED: Every Shoe Worn At The 2013 US Open