The archives at Nike, adidas, PUMA, and other heritage brands are packed with hidden gems that are continually being dug up for a new generation to froth over. Case in point is the New Balance 550, which is one of the most popular sneakers on the planet right now; however, before Aimé Leon Dore brought it out of hibernation in 2020, it sat in obscurity for 40 years. This begs the question of what else is sitting locked up in these vaults, collecting dust, that could be the next hit shoe.
While brands have historically tended to focus on resurrecting old running and basketball models, tennis has no shortage of retro heat, and with the tennis-like game pickleball trending hard across the globe, there’s no better time for brands to serve us up some court shoes. These are the five classic tennis sneakers that are more than deserving of a revival rally.
Nike Air Alarm (1995)
It’s simple: as long as Nike keeps the Air Alarm in the vaults, the sneaker blogging world is going to keep putting it on ‘sneakers we want to retro’ lists. Easily one of the most requested yet-to-retro models, the Air Alarm is a cult classic for obvious reasons. The bold design of this 1995 Andre Agassi signature can’t be forgotten once you see it. Aggressive looking to say the least, the striped tennis trainer indeed seems to be sending out an alarm to opponents with its bold lines reminiscent of a caution sign. The Alarm is the top model from Agassi’s bald-with-a-bandana-and-goatee era of the mid-90s, worn by him for the 1996 Australian and French Opens. But he’s not the only notable person to wear a pair. Over on the hardwood, Gary Payton was seemingly smitten with the loud design – fitting, since he’s such a trash talker – and laced up a pair for a game against Michael Jordan and the Bulls in November 1995. If a sneaker looks this good and has history on both the tennis and basketball courts, we’re not sure why Nike still hasn’t blessed us with a retro. We’ll keep waiting until the Swoosh sound that sweet, sweet alarm.
PUMA Cellerator Exhale (2000)
Serena Williams dominated tennis for so long in Nike footwear and apparel that it’s easy to forget she started her professional career in the late-90s wearing PUMA. The best shoe from her PUMA era is the Cellerator Exhale, and with its effortless Y2K essence, it’s the perfect time for the brand to dig into its tennis archives and pull out a heater like this. The Cellerator Exhale was a high-performance shoe featuring CELL cushioning in the heel and forefoot and ToughTec toe protection. The of-its-time look of the upper is speedy and techy, but not overly designed, making for the perfect candidate for a Y2K-era retro. The tennis trainer was available in men’s and women’s sizing and colourways, but we’re lasering in on the scorching red colourway Williams wore for the 2000 Australian Open.
adidas EQT Ultimate (1998)
There’s basically no information or pictures of the adidas Equipment Ultimate tennis shoe on the internet, so we’re going off this old two-page print ad alone to justify its inclusion on this list. From 1998, the Ultimate is an obscure member of the adidas Feet You Wear line, which was technology from roughly 1996 to 2000 characterised by special organically shaped sole units that were intended to act like a natural extension of the wearer’s foot. You probably know Feet You Wear best from its inclusion on classic sneakers like Kobe Bryant’s KB 8 and KB 8 II (retroed as the Crazy 8 and Crazy 98, respectively), or maybe Keyshawn Johnson’s EQT Key Trainer. Kanye West also borrowed the Feet You Wear sole unit of the KB 8 III for the Yeezy 500. With that all in mind, the Ultimate, with its puffy late 90s/early 2000s style, would slide right in with the other chunky, Y2K styles dominating the zeitgeist. And we’re also loving that colourway. Has Bad Bunny seen these?
Nike Air Zoom Pounce (1997)
If you’re a Zoom Airhead, you know that in 1997 Nike produced some of their greatest sneakers ever featuring the cushioning. We’re talking the Zoom Talaria runner, Jason Kidd’s Zoom Flight V, Penny Hardaway’s Air Foamposite One, and Michael Jordan’s first shoe to utilise Zoom, the Air Jordan 12. A Zoom-infused model from 97 that you likely aren’t as familiar with is the Zoom Pounce, one of Andre Agassi’s last official signature shoes. Although it’s greatly overshadowed by Agassi’s early-90s Tech Challenge models, the Pounce is still an absolute ace on the court. It’s known by the few that still remember it for great looks and performance to match. The design featured a close-to-the-ground Zoom Air sole that provided responsive and dynamic cushioning while a large midfoot carbon fibre plate kept feet stable. An old Instagram post about the Pounce from had former wearers of the shoe raving: ‘Best tennis shoe I ever owned,’ and ‘I loved how the forefoot outsole was so wide, it felt like a track spike on the court’. But let’s be honest, we’re not putting it on this list because of its performance (tech has well and truly moved on) – we want it back because of its wavy looks!
B.F. Goodrich Jack Purcell (1935)
We’re ending this list by going way, way back to 1935 for an on-court OG. The Jack Purcell was named after a star badminton player from Canada. Yes, apparently in 1935 a badminton player could be considered a star and get a signature shoe. Of course, the Jack Purcell still exists today as a classic casual sneaker, but you know it as the Converse Jack Purcell. It was originally made and released by the B.F. Goodrich rubber company, who back then was in the sneaker game as well as tyres and other rubber products. The Jack Purcell was adopted by tennis players and later basketballers who loved the model for its light and breathable upper and protective toe cap with the iconic ‘smile’. In the 1970s, B.F. Goodrich sold the rights for the shoe to Converse, who eventually evolved it into the casual sneaker you know today with various tweaks to its design throughout the years. What we’d love to see is the original construction of the Jack Purcell, complete with B.F. Goodrich branding. Perhaps the two brands will team up and bring them back for the shoe’s 90th birthday next year.