Tennis is a simple game — a game of wins and losses. But tennis fashion contains multitudes. It’s been described as uppity, conservative, athletic, minimal, even uniform — and some might argue it’s “unimportant to the game itself.” They wouldn’t be wrong. For decades, players have navigated a maze of rules and dress codes dictating what can be worn on court. That’s given us the familiar staples: button-down blouses, pleated skirts, sleek sneakers, mid-thigh shorts, tanks, and classic tennis dresses.
Still, there have been moments, standout ones. Think: Serena and Venus Williams with their iconic hair beads in the ’90s, Jannik Sinner securing approval to carry a Gucci duffel splashed with logos, and now, Venus Williams again — this time, stepping out with a fuzz-covered racquet bag by ERL.
On August 25, 2025, Venus Williams made her way to Arthur Ashe Stadium for her 25th appearance at the U.S. Open. Though she fought hard in her match against Karolína Muchová, it ended in a loss. Still, she won over the fashion world — keeping her name very much alive in the tournament..
Walking onto the grounds of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Williams wore a white ERL polo featuring the brand’s signature script logo patch, paired with a matching pleated tennis skirt and a distressed visor — classic tennis wear. But the true star of the show was the custom ERL racquet bag. Styled by Ronald Burton III, Williams debuted a butter-yellow, hand-aged shearling leather tennis bag, complete with a leather strap and silver ERL hardware logo.
The custom shearling bag channeled a campy edge and of course, sportswear, reimagining the size of the racquet with exaggerated proportions and adding a playful pop of color and texture to the otherwise all-white outfit. The full-shearling texture and whimsical proportions are signature ERL — a brand known for its playful subversions of everyday silhouettes. We’ve seen it in their oversized crewneck sweaters, faux-fur jackets, and most recently, in their viral interpretation of North West’s Lion King costume.
The recent trend of 3D-printed, oversized, and all-over fuzzy textures has taken streetwear by storm. From the resurgence of Justin Bieber’s Skylrk, to Crocs releasing a fuzzy, cozy-luxe slipper, and now Venus Williams’ shearling ERL racquet bag — it’s clear that fuzzy fashion is no longer reserved for winter or novelty.
So while Williams may have lost the match, she still served, walking on and off the court.