Exact Wimbledon dress code rules for players - and why women had to go braless

Daily Mirror

02-07-2025

The All England Lawn Tennis Club hosts one of the world's most prestigious tournaments and sometimes the players that compete in it have fallen foul of its strict guidelines
Wimbledon is in full swing, with the top tier tournament known for its strawberries and cream, the Royal Box and tennis whites. The contest's dress code regulations date back to the 1880s, with the strictly white outfits intended to minimise the visibility of sweat marks.
Controversy occurred in 2014, when female players were reportedly instructed to discard bras that violated the strict dress code. Wimbledon 's rules stated that any visible undergarments must be entirely white, with just a single trim of colour no broader than one centimetre allowed.
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Several female players that year were said to have been asked to remove bras that didn't meet the strict guidelines. During her second-round match against Caroline Wozniacki, Great Britain's Naomi Broady was reportedly without a bra - although it wasn't clear whether she had been asked to remove it.
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In 2017, Venus Williams seemed to swap her bright-pink bra when her match was interrupted by rain, refusing to discuss what happened afterwards. Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon men's champion, wasn't impressed. "Some of the girls have been told to go back and change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them," he said.
"I believe some of the girls didn't have suitable sports bras and had to go without them. It has absolutely gone ridiculous."
The veteran champ revealed it wasn't just women who could fall foul of the dress code - men also had to ensure their underwear was white. "One of the players was called into the referees' office because he had blue underwear that showed through when he got sweaty," said Pat. "So he was told not to wear dark underwear."
As well as a backlash from players and commentators, a protest group was formed called Address The Dress Code, voicing worries about female players who are menstruating. And in 2022, Wimbledon relaxed its rules to allow women to wear dark-coloured undershorts. Solid, mid or dark-coloured undershorts were allowed as long as they weren't longer than the skirts or shorts worn over them.
Sally Bolton, the All England Lawn Tennis Club's chief executive, said the move was intended to alleviate "a potential source of anxiety". "We are committed to supporting the players and listening to their feedback as to how they can perform at their best," she added. "It is our hope that this rule adjustment will help players focus purely on their performance."
This year, the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu sparked controversy when she "rocked up in a pink outfit" for a practice training session at Wimbledon, the Daily Mail reports. The All England Club rules state players must wear "suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white" while on the courts.
Other stars falling foul of the dress code include Aussie bad boy Nick Kyrgios, who arrived on court in a pair of red Nike Jordan shoes and matching cap in 2022 before changing into white attire. And Wimbledon legend Roger Federer was once told off for wearing orange-soled shoes.