Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini has revealed that the All England Club banned him from wearing a special walk-on outfit designed by his sponsor Hugo Boss because it was deemed insufficiently white. The Italian, who reached the final at SW19 in 2021, disclosed the incident after his second-round victory over 20th seed Arthur Fils on Centre Court.
Strict dress code enforcement
Wimbledon's all-white dress code is among the most stringent in professional tennis. The tournament's official guidelines state: '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.' Berrettini's proposed Hugo Boss jacket, which featured a beige tone, failed to meet these requirements.
'There was an option [to wear an outfit] actually, but I got refused by Wimbledon,' Berrettini told reporters after his match. 'It was not white enough. It was a little bit off-white. Then on the colour, it was a little bit brownish. So there was an option, but they didn't let me do it. It's okay.'
Berrettini's resurgence
The 30-year-old Italian has battled persistent injury problems since his 2021 final appearance, but has shown promising form this year. He defeated Stan Wawrinka in the first round and then upset 20th seed Arthur Fils on Centre Court, setting up a third-round encounter against wildcard Grigor Dimitrov.
Fritz and Osaka make fashion statements
While Berrettini was denied his jacket, fellow Hugo Boss-sponsored player Taylor Fritz made headlines with an eye-catching walk-on outfit for his second-round match against Patrick Kypson. The American sixth seed acknowledged the pressure that comes with such fashion choices. 'I think people are going to be torn,' Fritz said. 'I think some people are going to like it and some people are going to think that anyone who is dressed up to walk out is doing too much.'
Fritz added: '[You feel] maybe not more nervous, but you show up in a full outfit and get snipped in the first round, you kind of look stupid. You look really stupid, honestly.'
However, the standout walk-on outfits have come from Naomi Osaka. The four-time Grand Slam champion wore an all-white 'Kill Bill'-inspired kimono for her opening win over Elsa Jacquemot. In the second round, Osaka showcased a white jacket with floral decoration, a long trailing train, and a cream obi belt.
'When I think about Wimbledon, it's obviously the all white,' Osaka said earlier in the tournament. 'When I think about that, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian. Then if I dive deeper into like Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don't have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono.'
Impact and tradition
Wimbledon's all-white rule has been a point of contention and creativity for years. While some players like Berrettini face restrictions, others like Osaka embrace the tradition while adding personal cultural touches. The strict enforcement ensures that the tournament's classic aesthetic remains intact, but also sparks conversations about individuality within the sport's most prestigious event.
