She may have only turned pro back in 2018, but in just a few years Emma Raducanu has had quite the career.
While it has certainly been a rollercoaster, the star was the first British woman to win a Grand Slam since 1977 in the 2021 US Open - an impressive feat to have achieved in her tender 21 years. What followed was a slew of high-profile sponsorships that included the likes of Dior, Tiffany & Co., Porsche and Wilson to name but a few, an MBE and a spot in the Forbes Top 10 2023 tennis rich list, with a total of £12.2m in earnings. Given the opportunity, who wouldn't want the chance to be in her (tennis) shoes?
I jumped at the opportunity, stepping into the aggressive right-handed baseliner's Nike Vapor Air Zoom 11 to see if I could match her solid technique and give you the lowdown of how they feel and perform on the court.
Features
This Vapor line was made first famous by the legendary Roger Federer. Now in its 11th iteration, it is a shoe that combines speed and durability. It is cut lower to the ground to optimise speed and Nike has repositioned its Zoom Air technology around the forefoot area in order to put an extra spring in your step.
The moulded side wall protects and supports the foot from robust side-to-side movements and is finished off with a breathable reinforced mesh upper, keeping your hot-stepping feet cool, calm and collected.â¯
I have previously put the Vapor Pro 2 through its paces and this model is very similar in terms of style, fit and feel. The main difference is the lateral support in the Vapor 11s runs higher up the side to counteract ankle rollover. On the scales, the Vapor 11 registers 13g heavier - at 471g for UK Size 11 - than the Vapor Pro 2, but you don’t notice this at all.
Verdict
While the Vapor 11s may appear bulky at certain angles, I found the sneaker quick off the draw and a winner in the looks department. There is certainly more intricate detail on the upper with cool diagonal stripes and a dot-matrix finish. This is not just style but function too, offering improved protection and ventilation - features that no doubt are welcomed by more aggressive players like Raducanu. What's more, they require absolutely no break-in and are immediately comfortable. This is something Nike has always excelled at.
Through rigorous testing, these tennis essentials came up trumps - notably on moving and pivoting in full-tilt mode from side to side around the baseline. Natch as this is a strong feature in the Raducanu game. The lacing system could provide better lock-in and I can’t help feeling the experts at Nike could reconfigure it with a bit more security.
While the durability of the hard-court dogtooth sole might be questioned, the less aggressive tread in the forefoot allows for superb sliding potential, and the zone under the heel is more exaggerated for braking and switching direction.
When it came down to hitting overheads, transitioning off the back foot and pushing your body forward (another Raducanu signature), the slightly raised rocker heel is more accentuated to provide an extra boost.
I didn’t think Nike could produce a better shoe for the modern game after Raducanu's now sadly discontinued Vapor Pro - but the brand has done it again with the Vapor 11 and paired it perfectly with her amped-up court coverage. Good job, Nike.
They say the road to recovery is a long one but, with any luck, we will see the former British women’s No. 1 return to grand-slam glory in the not-too-distant future and back into the Top 10 world rankings, wearing these stellar shoes.
