Be it for its notoriously crisp dress code, its celebration of sportsmanship, skill and precision or for its striking balance of gentlemanly rivalry, tennis has long been regarded as one of the most stylish sports. “Tennis uses the language of life,” as Andre Agassi once put it. “Advantage, service, fault, break, love – the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence because every match is a life in miniature.”

As the world’s best players go at it in the Grand Slam tournaments, bringing a great deal of tactical prowess to the courts of Melbourne, Paris, London and New York, it’s often the fans who serve up the real action – in sartorial terms, that is – from the stands. From Justin Theroux’s rugged look to James Norton’s classic suit, here’s what we can learn from tennis’ slickest spectators.

You can never go wrong with an expertly tailored suit. Given the dress code, we’d advise you stay on the darker side of things or opt for lighter blues or beige come summer. Take note from James Norton and Rami Malek, above – the sartorial success of a timeless outfit is all about the little details you choose to dress it up with. A bright, patterned tie can be the focal point, for instance, while a pair of well-chosen sunglasses are sure to come in handy for long sets in the sun.

If you’ve secured Wimbledon tickets and want to avoid a sartorial mishap, your best bet is to layer similar colours – neutrals, in particular. While there’s no formal Wimbledon dress code, per say, smart attire is strongly encouraged, especially for Centre Court or No 1 Court. One caveat being the Royal Box, where a tie, jacket and dress shoes are non-negotiable. Elsewhere, a tonal look is the easiest way to show off your styling skills, as you won’t need to worry too much about colour coordination. If you wear collar on collar, like Andrew Garfield, make sure the necklines align for a tidier appearance. Palette-wise, go for adjacent shades of the same colour and try to match up the small details to bring the whole fit together.

Dressing up doesn’t necessarily mean wearing the whole three-piece. Sometimes the lived-in appeal of a single item can single-handedly add the right dose of panache to your getup. Take Justin Theroux as proof – he famously knows his biker from his western styles, but at last year’s US Open, he took the classic ranch look to the court with a crisp white shirt, jeans and timeless aviators – and he didn’t miss.

At MR PORTER, we’re big advocates of a well put-together look. But we’re just as fond of a single, statement piece that carries the whole outfit. And, let’s be realistic, if you want to stand out in the stands, that’d probably have to be a jacket – you’ll spend the majority of the time sitting down, so your trousers won’t be as visible. Nail it up top with an uber-luxurious piece of outerwear, take inspiration from Pharrell Williams’ ostrich leather aviator-style jacket or a tactile suede blouson and you pretty much have carte blanche with the rest of your layers.

Striped shirts can inject some personality into an outfit without being overwhelming. Which crowns them as one of the easiest ways to make you look like you’ve put some thought into what you’re wearing – even if the shirt in question is casually layered over a tee and leather trousers, à la Timothée Chalamet. In the realm of vertical stripes – the ones that miraculously make you look that tiny bit taller – opt for micro stripes for a more formal getup to pair with a suit, or pick chunkier patterns to add a little more verve to an otherwise casual outfit.