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Wimbledon’s archaic dress code is set for review, finally

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Scrutiny of Wimbledon’s controversial all-white dress code appears to have finally prompted a likely change before the 2023 championships.

Wimbledon’s all-white dress code could be relaxed following ongoing criticism. 

The tournament’s rigid rules on what a player can wear has once again come under fire for its inconvenience on female players. American tennis icon Billie Jean King criticised the dress code during a TV appearance on CNN.  

“My generation, we were always worried because we had to wear white all the time, and it’s what you wore underneath that’s important for your menstrual cycle,” King said during the interview. 

“You get tense about it because you know, the first thing we are is entertainers. You want whatever you wear to look immaculate, look great.”

She further went on to say that the rule of wearing all-white was ‘going backwards’, and hoped that big changes would be seen again. 

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Following the 12-time grand slam champion’s response, the All England Club released a statement over the importance of ‘prioritising women’s health’ and ‘supporting players based on individual needs’. In the statement, it also said that they are “in discussions with the WTA, manufacturers and medical teams” over the issue. 

It is reported that the relaxation of the rule will be made in time for the 2023 tournament. 

The policy in its current form states that all players’ clothes and undergarments are to be white.

But the event came under pressure earlier this year to amend their policy when many female players including Daria Saville, Heather Watson, Priscilla Hon spoke up about the mental stresses of the dress code. 

Romania’s Mihaela Buzărnescu was forced to change her bra earlier this year, ahead of her first-round match, deemed not compliant with the Grand Slam tournament’s rules.

With Wimbledon in the spotlight, the issue is being put front and centre as it should be.

Picture of Ashleigh Matosevic
Ashleigh Matosevic
Ashleigh is a born and bred Melbournian who has covered a number of sports since graduating with a sports journalism degree. She has a passion for Aussie rules and basketball, as well as sharing the stories about the sportspeople who captivate us. Her experience includes writing for The Inner Sanctum and Draft Central.

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