Wimbledon is probably the most famous Grand Slam tournament in the world. But why is the event so iconic? Is it the elegance of the hosts, the beautiful lawn, the famous strawberries and cream, or maybe even the strict dress code for tennis players? One thing is for sure, on the sacred lawn of Wimbledon the motto is: only in white, please!
How did the white Wimbledon dress code come about?
The rule dates back to 1877. Even at the first tennis tournament of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the host insisted on white clothing. (Also read: Wimbledon: That was the longest tennis match in tennis history)
Luxury, elegance, aristocracy and the smell of sweat do not go together, so the organizers had to find a solution to deal with the participants’ immoral sweat. A thorn in the side of the elite club? Colorful sportswear – because sweat stains are particularly noticeable here.
This is how the idea was born to oblige all players to wear white clothing during the tournament. After all, white is the color par excellence for concealing sweat stains. Over time, this quirk turned into a real craze. Today, after countless changes and tightening, a set of rules has emerged that can even be read on the tournament’s official website.
Wimbledon: One rule, ten points
- Competitors must be (almost) entirely dressed in white.
- White excludes off-white and cream colors.
- There must be no patterns on the clothing. A solid color border around the neckline and sleeve cuffs is acceptable, but must not be wider than one centimeter (10mm).
- The color contained in the samples is considered a solid color mass and should be within the guideline of one centimeter (10mm). Unusual logos or special motifs are not permitted.
- The back of a shirt, dress, tracksuit or sweater must be completely white.
- Shorts, skirts and track pants must be all white except for a single colored stripe along the outer seam no wider than one centimeter (10mm).
- Caps, headbands, sweatbands and socks must be entirely white with the exception of a single colored border no wider than one centimeter (10mm).
- Shoes must be almost entirely white. Soles and laces must be completely white. Big manufacturer logos are not recommended. Tennis shoes must comply with Grand Slam rules. In particular, shoes with knobs on the toes are not permitted.
- All undergarments that may be visible during a match (including through perspiration) must be completely white, with the exception of a single colored border no wider than one centimeter (10mm). The usual rules of decency must also be observed at all times.
- Medical supplies and equipment should preferably be white, but may be colored if absolutely necessary. In the training camps in Aorangi Park A relaxed dress code applies.
Wimbledon: What Happens When Players Refuse Dress Code?
In 2009, Roger Federer appeared on the pitch in a white sweatshirt with gold motifs. His tennis bag was also white, but it also featured the famous Nike logo in gold. Four years later, the Swiss came onto the court with white tennis shoes that conformed to the rules, but these had orange soles – Feder received a fine.
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