Female stars were forced to compete without a bra at Wimbledon in 2014 amid further calls for the Championships to relax their notoriously strict dress code
Wimbledon players were once forced to compete at the iconic tournament without a bra in 2014 as the strict archaic clothing rule has been scrutinised once again this year.
The all-white clothing rule and rigid regulations concerning attire has been under the microscope throughout these Championships, with a number of female players declaring the rules are out of touch with modern times. The ruling means all player s must adhere to all-white clothing, including undergarments and bras.
Citing the ruling, the official states: “Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm).”
The controversial ruling came to a head in 2014, with British star Naomi Broady an unfortunate victim. As a result, she was forced to compete in her second round match against 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniaki without a bra, losing in straight sets.
Pat Cash was furious with the events as they unfolded at the time, labelling the decision by the All England Club as ‘absolutely ridiculous’. Speaking eight years ago, the 1987 men’s Wimbledon champion told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Some of the girls have been told to go back and change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them.
“I believe some of the girls didn’t have suitable sports bras and had to go without them. It has absolutely gone ridiculous.”
Do you think Wimbledon should alter the dress code? Let us know in the comments section.
During the tournament, American legend Venus Williams threatened to fight back against the ruling by wearing animal print beneath her white kit. However, she ultimately backed down and conceded the white makes for a ‘nice change’ compared to the rest of the calendar.
“Everyone just kind of glows in white,” Williams said. “Obviously not all year, because anything every day is boring. But during these two weeks, it’s nice.”
The debate surrounding the clothing rules at Wimbledon has rumbled on to 2022, with finalist Nick Kyrgios facing punishment after he donned a red cap and trainers while courtside and delivering his on-court, post-match interview. After wearing his bright red Nike trainers, Kyrgios was asked why he so brazenly broke the rules after defeating Brandon Nakashima.
“Because I do what I want,” the outspoken Australian said. “I’m not above the rules. I just like wearing my Jordans.”
A handful of players in the women's draw, who will be allowed to wear dark coloured undershorts for the first time in 2023, had to ditch their bras thanks to SW19 regulations stating that male and female athletes must adhere to the competition's strict all-white dress code.
Some athletes were even forced to play without bras altogether after being informed their planned garments didn't fit the All England Club's criteria. With no alternative underwear that did fit the bill, certain players were left more exposed as a result.
A number of female Wimbledon competitors back in 2014 had to play without a bra, sparking fierce debate around the tournament's strict underwear rules. Organisers have relaxed the regulations ahead of this year's tournament, which has gone down well with a number of prominent players.
Wimbledon Player Mihaela Buzărnescu Forced to Change Bra Before Match. Romanian tennis star Mihaela Buzărnescu was forced to change her bra prior to her first-round match at Wimbledon because it was not compliant with the Grand Slam tournament's rules.
Still, the tournament did not budge. The all-white dress code dates back to the 1800s, when tennis was played in full-length pants and visible perspiration was considered improper, reports The Telegraph. White ensembles apparently hide sweat stains best, so the Wimbledon dress code called for all-white outfits.
The all-white clothing rule and rigid regulations concerning attire has been under the microscope throughout these Championships, with a number of female players declaring the rules are out of touch with modern times. The ruling means all player s must adhere to all-white clothing, including undergarments and bras.
First things first: There are literally no rules, which is to say laws, that govern women's underwear. Instead, laws focus on body parts, and what can be shown and not shown.
Can female tennis players wear shorts at Wimbledon or do they have to wear skirts? Thankfully, Wimbledon are not stopping the ladies wearing something that the men do. As demonstrated by Jelena Ostapenko in the above photo, women are welcome to wear shorts if they want, there is no rule enforcing skirts upon them.
Nick Kyrgios' Wimbledon rant over a “drunk” woman in the stands turned out to cost the combustible Aussie a lot more than the “700 drinks” he alleged her to have had back in July. The Wimbledon runner-up paid £20,000 to a children's charity in settling a lawsuit brought by Anna Palus, the woman in question.
In the 1880s, when the code was first written, it was frowned upon and considered improper to see a player wearing sweat-stained clothing. And because white was the color that least emphasized sweat stains, “tennis whites” became the standard attire for the affluent tennis players who participated at the tournament.
In 1993, at age 17, Capriati was charged with shoplifting a $15 ring from a mall kiosk, which she has described as accidental. She was arrested on May 16, 1994, and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. She agreed to enter a drug counselling program.
Simona Halep, a respected tennis player and a role model to many, made the brave decision to talk publicly about having breast reduction surgery during this years Wimbledon Championships.
Renée Richards (born Richard Raskind; August 19, 1934) is an American ophthalmologist and former tennis player who competed on the professional circuit in the 1970s, and became widely known following male-to-female sex reassignment surgery, when she fought to compete as a woman in the 1976 US Open.
Wimbledon rules permit players to "request permission to leave the court for a reasonable time for a toilet break", but this must be taken during a set break and cannot be used for any other purpose.
Women tennis players at Wimbledon are now permitted to wear dark undershorts as long as they don't show beneath their white skirts. The new rule was intended to reduce period anxiety for female competitors, but it has also started a welcome dialogue on worry surrounding menstrual mishaps.
The all-white dress code at Wimbledon is very strict. If any official sees a player wearing more color than what is allowed, they will request an outfit change. If a colored trim is under question, the official will bring out a tape measure to make sure it meets the dress code's official guidelines.
While it almost seems impossible to imagine how a Wimbledon tournament would go if a player decides to wear a non-white uniform, there actually have been some players who have tried not to over the years. One player who tested the tournament's rules and regulations several times in recent years was Andre Agassi.
The short answer is “because it's in the dress code.” But it's in the dress code for a reason: namely, when the code was written in the genteel 1880s, sweat stains were considered so improper and unsightly that it was decided that white should be worn to minimize their visibility, as sweat is more apparent on colorful ...
In 2003, in accordance with the wishes of the Duke of Kent, the Club's then-President, it was agreed that the time was right to discontinue the tradition of players bowing or curtsying to members of the royal family on entering or leaving the Centre Court.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
