The White Tradition at Wimbledon: Why is it Mandatory?

The most important tennis tournament in the world has already started activities this week in the United Kingdom: Wimbledon. In addition to being able to enjoy the matches with the best qualified tennis players, we will be able to follow them closely until the final in a very important event worldwide and which is also a favorite of several celebrities.

But it is now that it is back, that the tradition of seeing the fields flooded with players dressed in white. Why is it mandatory?

When does the white tradition start at Wimbledon?

This tradition arose in 1963 and has been made official ever since. Back then, only one colored line on the neck or sleeves was allowed as long as it was no more than one centimeter wide. But the socks, caps, sneakers and even their soles had to conform to the strict regulations set forth by the organizers.

Why should the uniform be white?

The exact rule is unknown, however, it is said that white was chosen because it is a color that does not attract the sun. In 1800, when the first Wimbledon tournament was played, they discovered that the practice could cause excessive sweating and leave marks on clothes. If a shirt was white, these stains would be hidden.

The rule has become stricter every time and no one can get out of tune. For the same reason, since 2014, the rule to wear white for Wimbledon has been extended to accessories, underwear and the soles of the shoes.

Which tennis players broke the rule at Wimbledon?

Although today we see tennis players follow the rules, there were those who broke them at the time. Andre Agassi He left the Wimbledon tournament in 1990 when he did not want to change the color of his clothing. But he came back in 1992 to win his first Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal he also clashed with ‘the authorities’ in 2005 after his pants were too long to continue in the tournament.

Rafael Nadal makes the decision to withdraw from Wimbledon 2022 after an abdominal injury. (Photo: Instagram/@wimbledon)

In the case of women, there were also problems. The tennis player Eugenie Bouchard revolutionized the history of clothing at Wimbledon. In 2015, the Canadian revealed her underwear under her white dress. What she caught her attention was her different colored bra, a situation for which she received a penalty.

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer is considered one of the best of all time. (Photo: Instagram/@rogerfederer)

Roger Federer Nor was he saved from a call to attention at Wimbledon by not complying with the dress code and arriving ‘all in white’. In 2013, he was reprimanded for wearing conspicuous orange-soled sneakers and had to change them before starting his second round.

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