Wimbledon changed its white dress code for women after protests | Popgen Tech

Wimbledon, following protests during the 2022 event, is relaxing its all-white clothing requirement to allow players to wear “medium/dark underpants” to make them more comfortable during periods.

Wimbledon’s strict all-white policy for players is one of the best-known features of the grass-court Grand Slams, but the All England Club said it had decided to update the rules after discussions “with the WTA, clothing manufacturers and medical teams about how it is better to support women and girls participating in the championship.”

The new rules state that women can now “wear plain undershorts in a medium/dark color provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirts”.

The issue of female athletes wearing white came to the fore at this year’s Wimbledon, with a number of players speaking of their anxiety at being forced to wear white. Protesters held signs that read “refer to dress code” in red.

“Definitely something that affects female athletes!” Monica Puig, now retired, tweeted earlier this year. “Finally brought it to the attention of the general public! Not to mention the mental strain of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and pray you don’t get your period for those two weeks.’

Australian player Daria Saville told The Daily Aus during this year’s event that she “didn’t want to worry about bleeding because we have enough other stress.”

All other clothing and accessory requirements remain unchanged for 2023, including the stipulation that “competitors must be dressed in appropriate tennis clothing, almost entirely white.”

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, said it was hoped the rule change would remove a “potential source of anxiety”.

“We are committed to supporting the players and listening to their feedback on how they can perform at their best,” Bolton said. “We hope this rule adjustment will help players focus solely on their performance.”

The All England Club also reported that Wimbledon recorded the second-highest revenue at $55.5 million in 2022, behind only 2019. Of this, 90% will be distributed to the Lawn Tennis Association “for the benefit of British tennis”.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.