Why Tennis players must compete in white attire at Wimbledon

• According to Wimbledon rule, all Tennis players competing in the tournament must wear white
• In 2014 they added new rules to the existing ones, which were tougher according to the players
• Even with the rules familiar to the players, some of them go ahead and wear different colours on the court
• Some of the players have gone ahead and criticised Wimbledon for putting in place ridiculous rules

Wimbledon rules

The All-England Tennis Club that hosts the Wimbledon tournament stipulates that players should wear preponderantly white attires.

There’s a long-standing tradition of players adhering to the current code on the court, and therefore the club believes that it helps to create an environment of “tennis magnificence.”

Some have argued that the code is rediculous, and players ought to be ready to select any colour they like. However, Wimbledon is one of the foremost ancient court game tournaments, and plenty believe the code is a vital part of its heritage.

Roger Federer playing at Wimbledon facts. Photo/Tennis.com

There square measure a number of exceptions to the rule. Players are allowed to wear up to 2 small logos, and they may wear undergarments in any colour, as long as they’re not visible..

However, the suburban area is one of the foremost ancient court game tournaments, and many believe the code is a vital part of its heritage.

Another reason why the all-white rule was put in place is because of sweat.

Sweat stains were deemed so inappropriate and unhygienic that it was finally agreed that white should be worn to reduce their recognition, as sweat is more visible on coloured clothing.

Wimbledon additional rules

Wimbledon added new rules to the existing ones that the players were expected to follow, complementing the existing all-white rule. The new regulations include precise shed they were required to wear

It went much farther, explicitly stating the specific colour standard measure contestants are allowed to wear while Playing at the tournament.

The rules presently conclude that only a mono trim of colour no wider than one centimetre in width is permitted on headbands, neckline, undergarments and cuff of sleeves.

The tournament officials also levied more rigid rules on viewable underclothes, stating that all undergarments viewable during the game must always be white.

This rule applies to accessories like caps, wristbands, and shoes, including the sole shoes.

Former Australian Russian star Pat Cash was once forced to withdraw from the tournament due to the rules he said were too strict rules.

Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon. Photo: Wimbledon .com

Players who defied the all-white rule

The all-white dress code has been a core component of Wimbledon for over a century, but it has not always been common with players.

Several tennis players have criticised Wimbledon officials for coming up with ridiculous and crazy rules over the years. Some players have defied the laws by wearing other colours on the court.

Some women did wear white, but they went ahead and wore different colours underneath, which are revealing.

Venus Williams, for instance, once wore a white outfit but had inside her top a pink bra in which the straps were viewable; she was forced to change during the break.

Another good example was when legendary Andre Agassi stopped competing in the tournament for two years, mainly because the dress code prohibited him from choosing to wear the fancy outfits that he preferred.

Roger Federer, widely regarded as the greatest male tennis player, is not an exception. The Tennis star was chastised for wearing white sports shoes that had orange souls, and he was forced to change to compete in the next match.

Martina Navratilova, another tennis legend, was criticised for wearing a short blue skirt that defied the dress code. She later told the officials that if they wanted the dress code rule too well, they had to relax the rules.

Novak Djokovic playing in Wimbledon Final. Photo: MARCA

Do other Grandslam tournaments have similar rules?

On the other hand, Tennis Australia has stricter rules for players competing in the Australian Open.

Contenders must wear allowable tennis outfits while competing in the tournament, and these acceptable outfits include appropriate headwear as determined by the referee.

The players’ tops’ sleeves must have one logo each, and any emblems or patterns on headwear should be “tennis relevant.”

The remaining two tournaments the Australian Opeen and the French Open do not heve strict dress code rules for players