The strict dress code of the All England Club has been a point of controversy for decades at Wimbledon, the most traditional tennis tournament in the world. Notable incidents include Andre Agassi's refusal to play until 1991 due to his preference for colorful attire, and Roger Federer's near disqualification in 2013 for wearing shoes with fluorescent orange soles. The latest controversy involves Novak Djokovic, who wore a gray knee pad during his first-round match against Vit Kopriva, raising questions about the tournament's rules.
Djokovic recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee after a grueling match against Francisco Cerúndolo. His appearance at Wimbledon was uncertain until he debuted with a victory against Kopriva, wearing a gray knee pad that 'borders on the legality of the tournament rules,' which require tennis players to wear almost entirely white clothing. According to the rules, only one colored line, no larger than ten millimeters, is allowed on clothing items, and shoes must be completely white.
The regulations do allow for some exceptions. Medical supports can be colored if absolutely necessary, although they should be white if possible. Djokovic confirmed in a press conference that he had received permission to wear the gray knee pad, explaining that he had tried to find a white one but was unable to do so. He also mentioned Frances Tiafoe, who played with black arm protection, and reiterated his commitment to adhering to the dress code in future matches.
The only place where tennis players can wear colored clothing at Wimbledon is on the training courts at Aorangi Park. Once they step onto any of the club's 18 courts, white clothing is mandatory. Over the years, numerous players have faced sanctions or reprimands for violating the dress code, including Martina Navratilova in 2014 and Serena Williams in 2010.
The tradition of wearing white at Wimbledon dates back to the Victorian era, aimed at hiding sweat stains. While the rules have evolved slightly to accommodate modern needs, such as allowing women to wear colored leggings during menstruation, the dress code remains one of the strictest in professional sports.
Despite the knee brace controversy, Djokovic made a triumphant return to Wimbledon, dominating Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in under two hours. The 37-year-old Serbian, who is recovering from right meniscus surgery, expressed his happiness with his performance and thanked his surgeon. Djokovic is aiming for his eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam title, which would further cement his legacy in tennis history.
- “I'm just really happy with the way I played and the way I felt on the court. I didn't know how it was going to go, so I'm really happy,” commented Djokovic after his win against Kopriva.
- In the second round, Djokovic will face either Briton Jacob Fearnley or Spaniard Alejandro Moro. He admitted that if it had been any other tournament, he might not have risked returning so soon after surgery, but his love for Wimbledon motivated him to compete.
- Djokovic's performance was reassuring despite the knee brace. He showed no signs of apprehension and was untouchable on his serve, not facing a single break point during the match. 'I want to thank my surgeon again for the excellent job he did, without which I would not have been here,' Djokovic said before heading back to the locker room.
