The Wimbledon dress code is legendary, and an historic tradition. Dating back to Victorian times, the rules state that players must wear “suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white” from the moment they step onto the court.
Even undergarments are included in the rule, and not even cream or off-white are allowed. It’s something that sets Wimbledon apart from other tournaments, but it can also cause distress to female players.
Now, this rule comes with an asterisk. Thanks to pressure from players, the organisers of Wimbledon are allowing women to wear non-white undergarments for the first time.
American professional tennis player Coco Gauff is one of the many female players to speak out in support of the change. “I really support it a lot. It’s going to be a big relief,” she told Sky Sports. “I was on my period last year during Wimbledon, and it was very stressful. I think it’s going to relieve a lot of stress for me and other girls in the locker room for sure.”
A necessary change
It’s easy to see why this update is important. Women’s Running recently reported on a period-shaming incident involving professional triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne.
A male social media user felt it necessary to shame the professional athlete for having a visible period…
