Taylor Fritz from the US, right, greets Gabriel Diallo of Canada on the net after winning his second men’s men at Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Wimbledon, founded in 1877, is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament around the world. The strict dressing code has long been part of its identity, with all clothing must be white, except for 10 mm color lining.Wearing the whole white in Wimbledon dates back to the age of 20 of the 20th century, the Victorian era when visible sweating was considered inappropriate.Originally, the all-white rule focused on hiding sweat brands and keeping players colder in the summer, but over time it has become a characteristic feature of Wimbledon’s tradition and history. Although generally rigid, the rules have seen occasional updates.Many prominent voices in tennis such as Billie Jean King, Judy Murray and Heather Watson have pointed out that white white poddinals can cause menstrual players. In response, the All England Club changed policy in 2023, allowing players to wear dark colored serfs unless they apply to shorts or skirts.
The controversy of dressing in Wimbledon is nothing new. In 1949, Gertrude Moran criticized that he showed visible underwear. Andre Agassi, known for rebellious tennis clothing, boycotted Wimbledon in the 80s of his white dress.Tennis legend Roger Federer raised his eyebrows in 2013, when he wore white shoes with orange feet. Wimbledon officials asked him not to wear shoes, and Federer called the rules “too strict”.More recently, Venus Williams was obliged to change during a rain delay in 2017 as a result of Fuchsia bra straps.Wimbledon alleviated the restriction in 2023, allowing women to wear darker shorts under the skirts after several players have expressed concern about wearing white shorts during their menstrual cycle.In his statement, AELTC said: “Determination of women’s health and support players based on their individual needs is very important to us and we are discussing with WTA, with manufacturers and medical teams about how we can do it.”
