Sporting talent, court-side style and an enigmatic personality are game, set and match for Irish international tennis player Sarah Hawkshaw.
A native of north County Dubin, Sarah was just six years old when she discovered she had a talent with a tennis racquet and she loved nothing more than taking on the boys in her local club as she developed her sporting skills.
‘I started playing in Skerries at age 6 and I used to get to train with the boys, which I always enjoyed - especially if I’d win against them. I also used to love watching the women’s tennis on TV to see who had the best outfit at each tournament,’ Sarah told Styled.
The dedicated tennis star now lives in Skerries with her sister Hannah who is the current Miss Ireland International and their beloved pooch, a 14-year-old Yorkshire terrier.
But even since she was young she devoted all of her spare time to nursing her innate talent.
‘I developed my tennis with some different coaches in Ireland, then got selected for Leinster training and over the years I got the chance to spend some time training abroad with different coaches and academies.’
Despite being beset by various injuries, Sarah never abandoned her dream of playing for Ireland on the international tennis circuit.
‘I had lots of injury setbacks from a young age which of course wasn’t ideal so it’s been a bumpy ride - but now my club is Carrickmines in Dublin and they’ve really helped me develop in the recent few years.’
And her steadfastness and dedication proved a winning formula, as last year she was selected to don the green jersey and represent Ireland on the court.
‘I got my first selection last year which was really exciting,’ said Sarah. ‘As a team we travelled from Dublin to Moldova together and played in the Europe Billie Jean King Cup group.
‘We had some great wins and some tough losses but overall it was memories for a lifetime and a great group of girls and coaches to get my first representation.’
But tennis, like any sport, requires gift, grit and an indefatigable spirit.
And many sacrifices are required when going for gold, but says Sarah it’s all for the love of the game.
‘I try not to see anything as a sacrifice as I feel privileged to be healthy and able to play so I just remind myself of that.
'But I think the best approach is just knowing what to prioritise when.
‘For me, family and friends are really important and I’m lucky that my loved ones, especially my close friends, always understand.
‘And if I miss a family event or a friends birthday I do my best to make up for it somehow.
‘Tennis has a lot of travel involved so that’s probably the toughest part - missing home.’
But she adds: ‘Rewards are plentiful, getting to meet new people and cultures and learn about yourself and life through sport is really rewarding.
‘There are so many ups and downs in any sport, someone once described tennis as a “microcosm of life”.
‘You don’t know what could happen next and you’re out there on your own so you just have to have a good attitude and try keep putting your best foot forward no matter how you feel.’
As well as knocking it out of the park in tennis, Sarah is a full-time student.
‘I go to Trinity College Dublin and I love it!’ she exclaimed.
‘I am studying Geoscience which is a combination of all the sciences in one to study earth and how it works - it’s quite interesting with current climate change and the need for sustainable development across industries.
‘Trinity Sport have been so supportive as well with balancing my academics and tennis schedule so I feel really grateful to have such great people around me.’
While she combines sport and study, Sarah says she has ambitions to pursue a career in the business sphere.
'I’m not fully decided on one specific thing yet but ultimately I would like to be in business of some sort,’ said Sarah.
‘I feel like the discipline of sport and the on and off-court lessons it teaches you provides you with the attributes necessary to be dynamic for anything, so hopefully I’ll be lucky to at least do something I enjoy and can bring value to the world.
‘I would also like to stay involved in Irish tennis as much as possible to see what the next generation brings.’
And if competition across the tennis net is stiff, the style stakes on court are sometimes fierce.
‘Sometimes outfits I see are questionable,’ she laughed. ‘I’ve worn some questionable ones myself. ‘
But she says tennis is experiencing somewhat of a classical style revival.
‘Over all though I think the tennis “old money” chic is really in at the moment, so I love wearing a pleated tennis skirt and sometimes even a polo shirt.’
An ambassador for Irish-owned sports store New Dimensions, she says it's “love all” for their collections.
‘New Dimensions have released some lovely pieces for tennis as well so getting to wear their gear on court always helps me feel confident.’
Of her own style, she admits to being somewhat of a fashion chameleon.
‘I’d say my personal style is a different character every day.
'I used to always try to fit into one style but now I like to just see how I feel or what the occasion is.
‘Sometimes that means baggy jeans and sneakers, other days it’s loafers and a nice skirt or dress.
‘I love having fun with fashion, especially on my days off, it always feels good to feel like a girl again.’
And her most cherished fashion treasure is her designer tote.
‘Currently my favourite thing in my closet is probably my vintage Jimmy Choo handbag.
‘I picked it up on my travels a couple of months ago and I don’t think I’ve had one day since where it hasn’t been worn.
‘But generally my favourite item in my closet is probably sunglasses - any pair or style - I just love them and feel like they can add so much to a look with minimal effort.’
That’s probably helpful, given that it seems like plenty of sunny days are ahead for Sarah.
Style Notes
1. SPORTY SPICE
My personal barometer for a downtime outfit is “could you wear this to the pub on a Sunday afternoon”.
While not a hard and fast rule of fashion it has worked for me as a baseline for acceptability.
And while it was acceptable during lockdown to never get out of joggers, going totally tracksuits has seen its day.
But that said athelsurewear as outerwear has seen a cultural revolution with every age from nine to ninety stepping out in stylish sportswear. But for my mind it's great to mix and match - tracksuit bottoms with a great coat, sweatshirt with a maxi skirt.
While Sarah can pull off tracksuit bottoms and towering heels, it's not for the faint of heart. But it does look smashing so be daring and channel your inner Sporty Spice.
2. SNEAKERS KEEPERS
The revival of Adidas classics from the 70s and 80s proved a winning formula for the sports brand. The iconic Adidas three stripes has been treated to a fashionable modern day reinvention that has seen celebrities gravitate towards sportswear couture brands.
Adidas sneakers, a staple of the all-American sweetheart, has seen w stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Wilde and Harry Style gravitate towards the iconic three stripe sneaked-she.
In particular The Adidas Gazelle has come in for special acclaim with the sneak-show scoring an average 4.8-star rating which is testament to the trainers quality and comfort and of course style.
The shoe, which is a remake of the classic Gazelle sneakers from 1979, is constructed of a super durable leather lining. The style is supportive without feeling overly stiff, and the rubber sole is so cushiony
From noon to night fashionable footwear can be the focal point of any outfit and Adidas looks fashionable when teamed with an oversized sweater, jeans, coat and slushy bag while the sportier sneakers can jazz up a snazzy disco dress.
The Gazelle comes in all shapes, sizes, colours and also a spare pair of different shades of laces. but there are also variations from a flat to platform sale and there’s also the bold variation of the Gazelle theme.
To achieve the perfect silhouette when pairing when denims; for skinny jeans roll up at the bottom to show some ankle or for straight leg jeans ensure they don’t totally cover your shoe. .
3. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
While nobody wants to rock about town looking like Inspector Gadget, the truth of the matter is that technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. And fashion is no different.
Tech gadgets have been transformative in how we approach our health goals with each new innovation promising healthier, happier lives.
From smartwatches to fitness trackers, headphones, aura rings and sleep gadgets, wearable tech is pervasive. But even if you have no desire to step foot in a gym, gadgets as fashion can be a fun addition to your everyday look.
4.NEW DIMENSIONS
Irish owned brand New Dimensions is the relatively new kid on the sportswear style block.
Founded in 2018 by brother and sister Orla and Jeff Hopkins, it has been a welcome addition to the athleisure market and currently has a pop-up store open in Dundrum Shopping Centre.
Collectively, the siblings have represented Ireland in sports such as gymnastics, soccer and professional golf and it was their immersion into sports that led them to start up their own quality Irish fitness wear brand.
They stock a diverse range of very stylish activewear with everything from leggings to sweaters, skirts to shorts and a truly gold medal selection of activewear for joggers, golfers, tennis players and even great looks for those of us who are absolutely exercise averse.
Photography by Evan Doherty
Makeup by Erin Burke
Hair by Jessica Dowdall
