7 Best Women's Tennis Shoes

We experienced the most explosive energy return on the court with the New Balance Coco CG2, and luckily for us women, it’s sized based on our feet! It’s loaded with top-tier technologies such as the Energy Arc carbon plate and the elite FuelCell foam, which our lab validates through its exceptional rigidity that confirms the shoe’s snappiness. It undercuts the performance of many tennis shoes, making it our top choice for women.

Slicing the midsole in half unveiled FuelCell foam densities: a plush 17.1 HA cushion at the core, and a firmer 29.5 HA carrier foam to stabilise the ride. These two work together with the Energy Arc carbon plate to create insane responsiveness. The ride was so enjoyable and we felt its power during hard dashes and split steps.

The shoe feels easy on foot, perfect for women who want a light feel. Our scales confirmed this with a 12.6 oz (356g) reading. It also felt much more weightless because of its massive propulsion. The carbon plate sprung us off with every step, and our bend test confirmed it’s 66.1% stiffer than average!

Thankfully, we felt in control and surefooted throughout the game. The outsole gave an excellent mix of grip and give, while its mid-cut design contained our feet well. However, the inner side has exposed foam which makes it vulnerable to damage. We recommend women who are aggressive sliders find another pair.

The Adidas Barricade 13 inspired confidence and surefootedness during our playtests. Our lab confirms its stable feel through its rigid elements, low profile, and wide base. The outsole perfectly strikes the balance between braking and sliding power, which makes us feel in control of our footwork. In the women’s tennis category, Barricade 13 is our ultimate stability shoe.

It feels impossible to twist our ankles or move side to side excessively. We discovered the Torsion System, with a stiff TPU in the midfoot that takes great effort to move torsionally, evidenced by its 4/5 rigidity score. The firm heel (5/5) locked us in without any discomfort thanks to its pillowy Geofit Sensepods that prevent heel slippage.

Barricade 13 also features a spacious 115.4/95.3 mm base, which naturally enhances a secure feel. The cushion sits low to the ground at 28.4/17.1 mm, perfect for women who prefer a good court feel.

In addition, the robust Adiwear outsole features a sharp herringbone pattern that allows us to slide and brake as needed. We could easily move in a split second without second-guessing, allowing us to go full throttle when chasing the ball.

However, the midsole lacks the playful and responsive feel some players need. Women seeking an energetic ride should check alternatives.

There’s so much to love about the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 but we can’t stop praising it for its exceptional wear resistance, making it our best durable women’s tennis shoe. Lab assessments reveal it’s sturdy from top to bottom and has a stiff construction that centres us, perfect for women who play mindlessly and move explosively. Plus, the midsole offers excellent energy return and impact protection.

The AHAR outsole barely showed damage after use and abuse, further evidenced by its minimal 0.4 mm dent in our Dremel test vs. the 0.8 mm average. Even the upper excelled with a perfect durability rating because of its hard-shell cover that provides reliable foot containment. Its 6-month warranty is a bonus too, making it suitable for women who often encounter premature wear.

The shoe’s rigid construction made us feel so secure. We attribute this to its massive DYNAWALL exoskeleton, which made twisting the shoe feel impossible and earned a 5/5 torsional rigidity rating.

To counter all the tough elements, a cushioned and energetic midsole awaits. We measured it to be an above-average 32.5/21.6 mm stack, which feels much softer and springier than its 30.3 HA foam because of the two Gel pods under our heel and the ball of our foot.

Unfortunately, the price we had to pay was agility. The shoe added some bulk and weighs 8.0% heavier than average.

The Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1 offers exceptional support, allowing for precise and confident footwork during our matches. Yet what makes it stand out is its exceptional impact protection and energy return, confirmed by its performance in our lab tests. It made the game so much more enjoyable which is why we awarded it as the best cushioned women’s tennis shoe.

Hard landings were much more bearable thanks to the cushioned 30.0/22.5 mm base while explosive toe-offs became enjoyable thanks to the highly responsive Zoom Air units under the heel and forefoot. Impact protection was excellent, allowing us to stay on the court for long hours.

We could move laterally without second thoughts since we felt so secure in the shoe, making it highly suitable for women who need extra support. It features a rigid shank, a wide 112.2/92.9 mm base, and a grippy outsole which all naturally stabilise our footwork. The herringbone pattern underfoot allowed us to move with precision and control, boosting our confidence during the game.

However, its supreme level of cushioning and stability dragged its weight down to 14.7 oz (417g), 14.6% heavier than average. Women seeking a weightless and agile ride should find another pair.

Fast as a flash and ultralight, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 kept us on our toes and allowed us to chase the ball relentlessly. It almost disappeared on foot during our playtests yet makes its presence known through its incredible responsiveness. Our lab results reflected our on-foot experience, proving its low weight, propulsion, and excellent traction. Because of all these and more, it’s our top speedy tennis shoe for women.

Each small adjustment in our footwork felt effortless because of the shoe's airy and agreeable nature. Our scale confirms it’s only 10.9 oz (309g), amazingly 15.1% lower than average. It moved as one with our feet, which our bend test validates with a result 17.9% more flexible than average.

We felt highly connected to the court and we understood why upon pressing our durometer into the cushion. It emerged 10.9% firmer than average, which contributed to stability and energy return together with the stiff Speedtruss shank in the midfoot.

What also inspired confidence to move aggressively is the reliable Precision Sole, making Solution Speed FF 3 a perfect match for agile women. Whether switching directions or stopping on a sixpence, the grippy rubber kept us secured.

However, the shoe has a streamlined fit that won’t suit everyone. We recommend women with wide feet to check other options.

Contrary to its name, the ASICS Gel Challenger 14 was a breeze to play with. For an accessible £100 price point, our lab assessments confirm it offers incredible stability, comfort, and a high-quality outsole that’s both grippy and long-lasting. Because of its effortless feel and support, it’s the perfect entry-level option for women starting tennis.

Our arches and ankles felt highly supported by the rigid structure and firm cushion. The DYNAWALL system holds our midfoot firmly, which is why we found it so hard to twist! It’s impossible to move excessively with its 5/5 torsional rigidity, perfect for women seeking reinforcements. Underfoot, our durometer confirms the foam is a firm 31.3 HA, naturally enhancing stability.

We found a GEL unit in the heel to balance the firmness, which felt soft and responsive. The shoe also weighs a light 12.5 oz (354g) for all the support it offers. It took many matches before our feet felt the fatigue.

The outsole offers confidence-inspiring grip when braking but also gives room to slide as needed. Our durometer shows it’s a tough 86.5 HA and showed an insignificant 0.4 mm dent in our abrasion test. With these results, it erased any doubts about durability. However, we can’t say the same for the upper since our Dremel damaged it. We recommend heavy toe draggers to find a more robust toebox.

The NikeCourt Vapour Lite 2 feels so effortless on foot during our matches. Simple and straightforward, it’s light, breathable and comfortable. Even with its non-intimidating £90 price point, it offers exceptional durability. Being 37.5% cheaper than the average lab-tested tennis shoe, it’s our best budget pick for women.

We found this shoe perfectly named as it essentially melts away on foot as soon as we start playing. Our scale confirmed what we sensed with an 11.9 oz (336g) reading, 7.7% lighter than average.

Its exceptional ventilation heightens its weightless feel. Smoke passed easily through the upper in our lab test, which is why we couldn’t rate it anything lower than a 4/5 breathability score. To avoid compromising durability, Vapour Lite 2 features a robust toe guard for sliding and dragging.

Underfoot, the outsole barely showed wear after extensive testing, a perfect match for women who value a long shelf life. Our durometer confirms it’s a tough 90.0 HC, while our Dremel cements its durability with a minimal 0.3 mm dent. For reference, the average tennis shoe gets damaged by 0.8 mm. However, women seeking an aggressive grip may feel underwhelmed with what this shoe offers. Those who want stronger stopping power should explore further.