Tennis? Check. Fashion? Check. Content creation? Check. Madison Appel is a Hamptons figure who’s doing it all—with a killer backhand and even better taste.
Madison Appel’s story begins witha tennis racquet and a Hamptons summer. “I was 4 years old whenI picked up a racquet for the first time—right here in the Hamptons,” she recalls. It was a family affair—both her parents and older brother played, making the sport more than a pastime. It was a way of life. Born in Manhattan but raised on Long Island, Appel’s Hamptons roots run deep. Her mother grew up in Southampton, and summers Out East were a given. “My grandparents and great-grandparents were always here,” she says. “My dad built our first house in the Hamptons when I was 2, so I’ve been a Hamptons girl my whole life.
That early foundation would lead Appel to a standout collegiate tennis career at Indiana University. “Playing for a team shaped me in so many ways,” she says. “It was the first time I was competing for something bigger than myself, and it gave me a motivation I hadn’t had before.” On and off the court, she made an impact—even helping style her teammates’ tennis outfits, foreshadowing a future where fashion would play a leading role.Today, Appel is no longer chasing trophies but is still immersed in the game. She spends her summers teaching tennis to Hamptonites, but the court is only part of her professional landscape. A full-time content creator, Appel has found the perfect balance between her love for tennis and her passion for fashion.“Teaching while building a digital brand was the best thing I ever did,” she says. “Tennis and lifestyle content is the most authentic part of me. And tennis fashion has really blossomed—what we wear on the court is just as relevant walking around town. ‘Tenniscore’ is a real lifestyle now.” Her own style is a mix of “athleisure tomboy and chic.” Appel jokes, “I’m 100 percent a sneakergirl—but you won’t catch me out to dinner without a pair of heels.”And while she may appear every bit the glam tennis influencer online, there’s more to Appel than meets the eye. “I don’t think people realize I have four brothers,” she laughs. “Once people meet me, it makes sense. They think I’m just a girly girl who plays tennis, but growing up with all boys definitely gave me that tomboy edge.”
Follow Madison Appel on Instagram @madisonappel and on Tiktok @madison_appel
