Tennis Towels: Why Players Use Them, Grand Slam Towels and How to Choose One

Watch any professional tennis match and you will notice the ritual: after a point, the player walks to the back of the court, wipes their face and hands with a towel, and then gets ready to serve or return. Towels are part of tennis culture, from the ball kids who carry them to the official tournament towels that fans collect as souvenirs.

Why tennis players use towels so often

• Sweat and grip – sweaty hands make the racket handle slippery, so a quick wipe keeps the grip secure.
• Vision – sweat running into the eyes can be distracting and even painful in hot conditions.
• Routine – many players use the towel as part of a mental routine between points, giving themselves a few seconds to reset and plan the next point.
• Time – a trip to the towel can slow down the pace of a match when a player needs to recover or break the opponent's rhythm.

What the rules say

Tennis has a limit on how much time players can take between points, enforced by a serve clock at many tournaments. Players must be ready to serve when the clock runs out, so towel breaks must fit within that time. Tours have also experimented with towel racks or boxes at the back of the court, which players use themselves instead of asking ball kids to bring the towel. This approach became common during the COVID-19 pandemic for hygiene reasons, and some tournaments kept it.

Ball kids and towels

At many tournaments, ball kids hand players their towels between points and take them back afterward. The practice has drawn criticism from fans and commentators who feel players should handle their own sweaty towels. Tournament rules and etiquette vary, and many players now collect their own towels from a rack.

Grand Slam towels: tennis's favorite souvenir

Each Grand Slam produces official towels in its own colors and design, and they have become some of the most popular souvenirs in tennis:

Tournament	Classic towel colors
Australian Open	Blue tones, often bright and modern
Roland-Garros (French Open)	Clay orange and green, or white
Wimbledon	Purple and green, the club's traditional colors
US Open	Blue and yellow, or other bold designs that change by year

Players are known to take tournament towels home, and fans buy them in official shops at the events and online. Some fans try to catch a towel tossed into the crowd by a player after a match.

How to choose a tennis towel

Size

A hand towel is easy to carry but may not be enough on a hot day. Many players prefer a mid-size towel, roughly the size of an official tournament towel, which is large enough to wipe face, arms and racket handle.

Material

Material	Pros	Cons
Cotton terry	Soft, very absorbent, like official tournament towels	Heavier, slower to dry
Microfiber	Lightweight, compact, dries quickly	Feels less plush
Cooling towel	Stays cool when wet, helps in hot weather	Not as absorbent for sweat

Extras

Some towels have a loop or clip to hang on the fence or bag. Others come in pairs, one for the face and one for the racket. A cooling towel around the neck during changeovers can help on very hot days.

Tips for using a towel on court

• Keep the towel in a dry spot, such as the back fence or your bag, away from your water bottle.
• Wipe your racket handle as well as your hands to keep the grip dry.
• In recreational play, keep towel breaks short so you do not slow down the match.
• Bring two towels on hot days, one for sweat and one dry spare.
• Wash towels after every session, since damp towels quickly develop bacteria and odor.

Other ways to manage sweat

• Wristbands – absorb sweat before it reaches the hands.
• Headbands and visors – keep sweat out of the eyes.
• Overgrips – thin grips over the racket handle that absorb sweat and are replaced often.
• Grip powder or chalk – some players use it for very sweaty hands.

Caring for a collectible towel

If you collect official tournament towels, wash them in cold water with mild detergent, avoid bleach and fabric softener, and air dry or tumble dry on low heat. Store them folded in a dry place. Signed towels should be displayed in a frame away from direct sunlight to keep the ink from fading.

Exploring other sports gear? See our guide to golf club polish and the story of loud golf shirts.