Why White Reigns Supreme on Wimbledon’s Courts

Wimbledon, with its grass courts and traditions, holds a special place in the hearts of all tennis lovers. The sight of the British royal family adds to the occasion as they sit in the box that’s been reserved for them since 1922. When it comes to the dress code for tennis players, strict rules apply. All-white tennis wear is still obligatory at Wimbledon, although most of the other tournaments have done away with this rule. Why does this rule still apply?

Dress code rules at Wimbledon

Tennis players at Wimbledon have worn white since the Victorian era. Early tennis attire for women included long skirts, corseting, and wide-brimmed hats. The men wore wool pants and sweaters. In 1919, French player Suzanne Lenglen was the first to do away with the long dresses, wearing calf-length skirts and shorter sleeves.

In 1817, when the first tournament took place, white was considered more fitting than colors because it could camouflage sweat stains. Seeing sweat stains was deemed unsightly and improper. White was also able to reflect heat, and so the tradition of wearing tennis whites became firmly established. For many years, all players had to wear white, and this tradition continues to this day.

Now that US sports betting is legal in many states, sports bettors will be looking forward to placing bets on their favorite players at Wimbledon this year. Betting on who will win the singles titles is very popular.

Changes over the years

While the rules called for ‘predominantly white’ outfits, some competitors started wearing color. Both the Williams sisters challenged the definitions of what tennis clothes can be.

Serena Williams would play with color combinations like red and white and wear minis and tutus. Venus once wore a lacy red and black outfit resembling lingerie. Serena wore versions of the bodysuit at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. This Grand Slam generally has more relaxed rules, and in 2024, Coco Gauff wore bright yellow.

At Wimbledon, a crackdown changed the wording to ‘almost entirely white,’ which meant no color panels, off-white, or varying colorways on tennis shoes.

A slight relaxation of the rule

Several women tennis players spoke about the ‘mental stress’ the all-white rule put on them. Social media influencers and others put pressure on the organizers to relax this rule for women. Even Billie Jean King spoke about how the dress code caused anxiety for her and other competitors in her generation. She says that the all-white dress code is one of her pet peeves. It makes it difficult to distinguish between the two players on the court.

A slight relaxation of the rules has taken place in recent years, and women are now permitted to wear dark undershorts. This rule adjustment was made so menstruating women players don’t have to worry about whether blood is visible on white and can concentrate on their game.

Challenges to the rule

Not all tennis players are in favor of the all-white dress code. The way you dress at Wimbledon can give insight into your personality. Andre Agassi’s clothing style was part of his brand, and the dress code rules at Wimbledon made him boycott the tournament from 1988 to 1990. He finally gave in, and in 1991, he showed up wearing white and some orange sunglasses.

Roger Federer’s tennis shoes with their orange soles were banned after his first round in 2013. The following year, the rules tightened for color accents. In 2022, Australian Nick Kyrgios chose to walk out onto the court at Wimbledon in bright red and white Air Jordans.

In 2017, Jurij Rodionov was told to change his blue underwear that was visible while playing. As recently as 2024, Ons Jabeur came out wearing black and was sent to change. She said she had temporarily forgotten the rule while she was warming up.

Part of the Wimbledon brand

What may seem anachronistic is seen by Wimbledon as part of its brand. It doesn’t look like any other tournament, so it’s distinct and different. Even the criticism of famous players such as Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova hasn’t resulted in a softening of the dress code. We are likely to still see the players in white for years to come.