“Stupid and Ridiculous rule; Finally arriving in the 21st century”- Fans give mixed reactions to Wimbledon’s all-white underwear rule for female tennis players
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People opposing the all-white dress rule at Wimbledon - FirstSportz
Wimbledon has always laid strict rules against sporting an all-white outfit during the two weeks of play. It is an age-old tradition that has been followed over the years. However, now after a series of protests and objections from prominent personalities, Wimbledon organizers have finally agreed to discuss the possibility of removing the mandatory all-white rule.
The all-white rule was very challenging for female players, especially with the all-white underwear rule during their menstrual cycle. A few of the players in the past, including Serena Williams, wore colored underwear over their white outfits in the early 2010s. After such instances, the organizers made it compulsory to wear only white. There have been some disturbing and awkward situations when there would be a potential leak for women athletes during a match, leaving the player traumatized.
After a long battle, the organizers finally agreed to discuss bringing in a huge change in their rules. It proved to be a relief to the female players as they claimed to discuss the matter, considering the fact of their health and menstrual cycles. Many people have even protested against the rules with banners of ‘Address the dress code ‘.
The official statement released by the All England Lawn Tennis Club states that “Prioritizing women’s health and supporting players based on their individual needs is very important to us, and we are in discussions with the WTA, with manufacturers, and with the medical teams about the ways in which we can do that.“
Twitter reacts to Wimbledon’s bringing a late change to the all-white mandatory rules
Wimbledon‘s all-white rule was even questioned by players like Andre Agassi when he chose not to play for three years. While the decision to relax the rigid rules was much appreciated on social media for being in favor of women athletes and their health, some mocked the Wimbledon authorities over considering it so late. People on social media criticized the authorities for taking so long to come to a conclusion.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans had to say:
Andy Murray‘s mother Judy was one of the first who came forward to provide her take regarding the decision. She publically acknowledged the much-needed change that could avoid some embarrassing moments for women. She even requested support from other female players and even urged them to voice their opinion, since they can understand the issue on a personal level.
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Prateek Pradhan
(601 Articles Published)