They’re finally here. L.A. icons Brain Dead have partnered with adidas on a pair of Barricade 13s—the latest iteration of one of the longest-running on-court tennis shoes in the game—featuring looks that bring sport and casual wear together as seen on TSS’s own David Bartholow and in OPEN Tennis Vol. 2. Known for its stability, torsion system, and lockdown fit, the Barricade has been a mainstay on the court for decades, quietly marking its 25th year in 2025, according to Tim Newcomb in our weekly newsletter. Key details include a translucent outsole exposing speckled underlays, metallic silver 3-Stripes, co-branded sock liners, and custom tongue branding. It really is the most exciting performance shoe release in recent memory. 

This custom racquet combines Solinco’s expertise in crafting sporting equipment of quality, performance, and versatility with Brooklyn artist Eddie Martinez’s signature tennis ball and “blockhead” motifs to create a stylish racquet for discerning players and fans. The Whiteout is designed to offer players with faster swing speeds a precise control- and feel-oriented racquet. Each racquet comes with a copy of The Second Serve’s new print magazine, OPEN Tennis Vol. 1, Solinco Hyper-G racquet strings, as well as stickers and dampeners bearing Eddie Martinez and The Second Serve’s designs. Sold exclusively by The Second Serve. 

Our creative director David Bartholow has been playing with previous iterations of the Yonex EZONE for years, and while he was devoted to them, they could be a touch stiff, so balls tended to fly unexpectedly. The new, eighth-generation EZONE, though, is a “flawless update,” he says. The EZONE 98 has a thinner beam and is significantly more maneuverable than the previous versions and has a “ridiculously buttery feel” when paired with Poly Tour Pro 125. “In moments, whether delusional or not, you get the sense that you can do almost anything with this instrument,” says Bartholow.

After a few wayward years where Nike inexplicably veered from the foolproof Vapor platform they introduced in 2012 by way of Roger Federer, the course has finally been corrected. Not only that, says Bartholow, but the new Vapors might be the best ones yet. While it has lost some of that amazing plushness from previous generations, the shoe is somehow infinitely more durable: “Pairs that once evaporated in six weeks are now lasting me three to five months of playing five days a week.” The addition of a TPU layer to the toe and primary wear areas brings much-needed protection that only contributes to the improved durability. “They’re also a touch longer and more true to size, which my toes appreciate. Whereas previous versions required zero break-in period, these do require a few sessions, but nothing crazy. As a self-professed Vapor head, one could say I’m downright elated that Nike understands how important it is to preserve this shoe,” says Bartholow. 

Patrick Riley, of the band Tennis, was a highly touted junior player before he burned out, as many of us do, so when he picked up tennis again (the sport, that is) recently, he was overwhelmed. “Getting back into tennis after taking a 15-year break, I was entirely lost on what I wanted,” said Reilly. As a junior he played with Head Prestige frames, “but a lot has changed: Balls are slower, I am slower and weaker. (This is not entirely true: Reilly’s slick game was photographed for OPEN Tennis Vol. 2, and we can confirm he still commands the court.) “The TF40 305, with the 18×20 string pattern, was the perfect choice to bridge the gap; it has the feel and control of a Prestige but significantly more power and is light enough to customize,” he said.

When the US Open released its official merch, one design looked strangely familiar. The Brooklyn-based brand Bageled NYC has been making small runs of tennis-centric merch and accessories that you can see worn by locals in the Fort Greene tennis scene, in Brooklyn. As reported in our Groundies column, their most iconic design features founder Sam Burns’ drawing of “Bagel Bud” hitting a vicious tweener while grinning. The shirt’s tagline, “Served Fresh Daily,” also happens to appear, verbatim, on the USTA’s bagel shirt. Accept no substitutes.

New in, our midweight long sleeve T-shirt features the OPEN Tennis and The Second Serve logo on the backside and left chest (and has a standard fit that tapers slightly from the chest to the waist hem). It was designed with a wide rib collar, semi-raglan sleeves, and signature flatlock construction, which is all to say it’s extremely classy. Our latest muted colorway is perfect for indoor tennis season. Printed on Reigning Champ’s Midweight Jersey Standard Long Sleeve shirt.

It’s the LVBL x Stand Up To Cancer x The Second Serve crewneck sweatshirt, featuring the painting “Federer and Nadal holding hands while crying,” by the writer and artist Sam Anderson. Why not immortalize the tender moments surrounding Rog’s retirement in wearable form? All proceeds go to benefit Stand Up To Cancer.

Don’t be afraid of trying new gear! Mike Belgue of the sportswear brand Reigning Champ had been using Tim Henman-era Slazenger racquets for the past 15 years, firmly stuck in his glory days, until a friend at Head suggested he try the Radical MP. “Not only did I have less arm and shoulder discomfort, but I felt like I could get balls that were out of reach previously, and when I got my racquet on them, I had more control while also having more effortless power,” he wrote in OPEN Tennis Vol. 2. “It still has a ton of touch while feeling confident with plow-through, but it’s so much more compliant than my old racquet. The equipment change renewed my vigor for the sport, and I’m sure it’s added years to my arm.”

Let’s be honest: All the tennis lovers in your life want for the holidays is tennis balls. “The Tecnifibre X-One is a remarkable ball that is insanely durable,” said Brain Dead’s Kyle Ng in OPEN Tennis Vol. 1. “I don’t know what X D-Core is, but it’s doing its job! This is a heavy ball that you don’t need to toss in the dumpster or ball machine after the first few hits. It can go the distance. And an extra ball per can is everything.” Nothing embodies optimism more than a fresh case of balls!

Writes editor David Shaftel in OPEN Tennis Vol. 3 (out next month!), “Conceived by the model, writer, photographer, and activist Laura Bailey, the hefty, best-in-class Courtship features nearly 200 pages of images by the landscape photographer Mark Arrigo. Arrigo’s photos of courts are diverse, moody, and comprehensive. The photos are accompanied by a section of essays by the likes of Bailey, as well as Judy Murray, Peter Gabriel, Billie Jean King, Anna Wintour, and many more boldfaced names. The book is a thorough encapsulation of Bailey’s tennis life, an intoxicating mix of high- and lowbrow courts.”

“In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki distills shoshin (beginner’s mind) into a reader-friendly guide that sheds light on the life- and tennis-applicable facets of Buddhism,” said our resident coach, Simon Hegelund, in OPEN Tennis Vol. 2. “I recommend this to players who tend to put pressure on themselves, are highly ambitious, and perhaps find themselves stuck. In the beginner’s mind, everything is practice.”

Lauded by everyone who lauds books, Changeover is the definitive text on the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, by the definitive tennis writer of his generation, Giri Nathan (who also happens to be the writer of our weekly newsletter). Our resident book critic Patrick Sauer called it a “fantastic, propulsive, deeply considered look at the Sincaraz phenomenon.” It’s required reading for fans of both the modern game and literary sportswriting.