Wimbledon’s all-white clothing bothers some, delights others

WIMBLEDON, England — Before being interviewed on Centre Court about his return to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Nick Kyrgios traded in his all-white grass-court shoes for a red-and-white pair of basketball sneakers, and swapped out his white hat for a red one. “Obviously Wimbledon doesn’t really care what looks cool.” Neither Kyrgios, nor anyone else, expects a change to the rules anytime soon. I would wear white for every match, everywhere, so I’m probably biased when it comes to that.” The first of the All England Club’s 10-point list of clothing guidelines states: “Competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white and this applies from the point at which the player enters the court surround.” The second stipulation: “White does not include off white or cream.” There are more details, too, such as that a color trim “around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeves is acceptable but must be no wider” than 1 centimeter, that “Caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks must be completely white except for” that same size allowance for trim, and this: “Shoes must be almost entirely white. Large manufacturers’ logos are not encouraged.” That’s absolutely fine with some of the “competitors.” Tommy Paul, who was seeded 30th and got to the fourth round, said that the Royal Palm Tennis Club in Pinecrest, Florida — where the head pro is Eric Hechtman, who has coached Serena Williams and Venus Williams — requires all white when he trains there. “If I see guys doing it at home during practice, then I have no problem doing it for Wimbledon.” One player in this year’s tournament said she always worries about getting her white outfit dirty while eating.