As the first Grand Slam of the 2026 season gets underway in Melbourne, the Australian Open once again becomes the testing ground for new tennis apparel. With, at times, extreme heat and long rallies at this popular event, brands are now focusing on performance, visibility and style.
This year’s collections continue a clear direction: advanced heat-management fabrics, lightweight construction, bold color palettes and once again a growing focus on sustainability. Let’s look closer at what players and fans will wear on or around the blue hard courts in Melbourne.
adidas: Built for Melbourne Heat
The adidas Melbourne Collection (image on top) continues to focus heavily on hot-weather performance. Designed for the Australian summer, the range prioritises breathability, airflow and freedom of movement.
Performance Focus
Adidas once again leans on its HEAT.RDY technology, engineered to improve ventilation and moisture control during long matches in extreme temperatures as we see often at the AO.
Design and Colors
The 2026 lineup features fluid, organic patterns with bright, high-contrast colors that really stand out.
Key Pieces
- The Freelift Pro Top remains a staple for men, designed to stay in place during overhead movement.
- For women, the Match Dress returns with lightweight construction and enhanced shoulder mobility.
Footwear
The Barricade and Ubersonic franchises headline the footwear lineup, offering durability, stability and speed for the various hard court surfaces. Find more tennis shoes from Adidas.
We will see custom Adidas apparel on several top players at the 2026 AO, including Zverev and Auger-Aliassime.
More streamlined designs from Nike
Nike’s latest Australian Open range continues its move toward body-mapped, streamlined designs that emphasise compression and mobility. The design is inspired by the power of the sea and includes symbols from the surf culture.
Materials and Fit
Using Dri-FIT ADV, the collection focuses on moisture control and temperature regulation. Many pieces feature textured panels and contoured seams for a close, athletic fit.
Player Endorsements
Nike athletes are expected to wear custom colourways tailored to individual players, such as Jannik Sinner.
Overall Direction
Nike’s approach leans toward a sleek, second-skin feel—functional, modern and performance-driven.
Find most of these new collections at Tennis Warehouse (USA, Canada), Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only (Australia).
Ralph Lauren: Classic Style, Modern Updates
Ralph Lauren continues its role as the Australian Open’s official outfitter, dressing tournament staff and ball kids while providing a more traditional contrast to all of the performance-focused brands.
Uniform Design
The 2026 uniforms introduce brighter tones inspired by the Australian summer, while maintaining the brand’s clean, classic look.
Sustainability & Protection
Many pieces incorporate recycled materials and UV-protective fabrics.
Other Notable Brand Collections
Lacoste
- Theme: Heritage style with modern performance updates
- Top player: Novak Djokovic
- Clean lines, classic color blocking, and lightweight fabrics remain central to Lacoste’s on-court style.
ASICS
- Theme: Precision design and lightweight construction
- Top player: Alex de Minaur
- Expect breathable materials, sharp detailing and footwear engineered specifically for hard-court movement.
New Balance
New Balance is now on its third year as the Australian Open’s Official Performance Apparel and Footwear provider and the pieces are available globally this time around. Find tanks, polos, rugby shirts, tees, hoodies, jackets and a lot of accessories
- Theme: Retro-modern styling with bold color accents. A mix of tennis culture and the “iconic Aussie spirit”.
- Top player: Coco Gauff
- Performance pieces designed to transition easily from match play to off-court wear.
Yonex
- Theme: Minimalist design with technical fabrics
- Popular among players who prioritize comfort, flexibility and understated aesthetics.
On
- Theme: Lightweight performance and clean design
- The brand continues to expand its presence in tennis, with apparel focused on mobility and breathable construction. Will we see the ON brand on more top 100 players this season? Ben Shelton, Iga Swiatek and Flavio Cobolli their main endorsers right now.
Apparel Trends to Watch at the 2026 Australian Open
High-Visibility Colors
Bright yellows, oranges and neon accents are increasingly common, helping players stand out on broadcast and in stadium lighting.
Heat-First Design
Ventilation zones, laser-cut panels and ultra-light fabrics are now standard for Australian Open kits.
Sustainability
Recycled materials are widely used across most collections (similar as previous years), with brands continuing to reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
Tennis-core Influence
Many of these brands are designing pieces that work both on and off the court, and there are many pieces available for everyday style.
