Latest news with #AddressTheDressCode
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Exact Wimbledon dress code rules for players - and why women had to go braless
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. 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. 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.
Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Pat Cash voiced his disapproval at 'ridiculous' Wimbledon rule before change
Wimbledon chiefs were slammed by Pat Cash in 2014 after several female players were reportedly forced to remove their bras for breaking the tournament's strict and archaic dress code Wimbledon faced scathing criticism from ex-champion and commentator Pat Cash for insisting female players remove their bras if they weren't strictly all-white. The revered tournament loosened its stringent all-white dress code in 2022, permitting women to sport dark-coloured undershorts. SW19 is synonymous with a rich heritage. But its long-standing principle requiring purely white attire has been subject to scrutiny by both critics and athletes. Wimbledon's adoption of such a requirement dates back to the 1880s, with the intent to mask sweat patches, which were deemed unsightly at the time. This policy extends to undergarments and sparked controversy when, in 2014, reports surfaced of women being compelled to ditch their bras for breaching the rule. Wimbledon's rules on attire dictate that all visible undergarments must predominantly be white except for a single trim of colour no broader than one centimetre. Relaxing these regulations in 2022, the guidelines now allow female participants to don solid, mid/dark-coloured undershorts as long as these garments are shorter than the players' skirts or shorts. Yet, a decade earlier, the enforcement of this protocol was taken to an "ridiculous" extent, with various athletes allegedly instructed to remove bras that did not adhere to the dress code. Great Britain's Naomi Broady seemingly skipped wearing a bra during her Wimbledon clash with Caroline Wozniacki in 2014, though it was not clear if she was prompted to do so. Commentary on the peculiar enforcement came through on BBC Radio 5 Live, where Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champ, lambasted the championship for its stringent dress code. "Some of the girls have been told to go back and change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them," fumed Cash. "I believe some of the girls didn't have suitable sports bras and had to go without them. It has absolutely gone ridiculous." The men weren't immune from the controversy either, as Cash noted: "One of the players was called into the referees' office because he had blue underwear that showed through when he got sweaty, so he was told not to wear dark underwear." In 2017, the issue resurfaced when Venus Williams seemed to switch her bright-pink bra during a rain interruption, but chose not to discuss the event later. Responding to mounting criticism and calls for change from not just players and commentators, but also a protest by a group named Address The Dress Code, Wimbledon altered its rule three years ago. The action group pressed for the relaxation of the strict dress code at Wimbledon due to the potential impact on female players who are menstruating, and their concerns were quickly heeded. Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, spoke out about the modification, noting that it was meant to reduce "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," stated Bolton. "It is our hope that this rule adjustment will help players focus purely on their performance."
