Matteo Berrettini has revealed that his walk-on outfit designed by sponsors BOSS for Wimbledon has been banned by the tournament for not meeting the strict all-white dress code. The Italian former finalist explained that the ensemble was deemed "not white enough" by officials.
Berrettini's Banned Outfit
Speaking about the incident, Berrettini said: "There was an option actually but I got refused by Wimbledon. It was not white enough. It was a little bit off-white. Then on the color, it was a little bit brownish. I seen it once. Yeah, so there was an option, but they didn't let me do it. It's okay." He added that he had posted about it on social media after doing a photoshoot with the outfit but was unable to wear it on court.
Fashion Statements at Wimbledon
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka turned heads with her striking fashion choices as she walked onto the court, wearing a kimono-inspired all-white outfit paying homage to Japanese culture and the film Kill Bill. Osaka said: "For me, like when someone talks about Wimbledon or when I think about Wimbledon, it's obviously the all white. It's the oldest tournament... In my head, when I think about that, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian. Then if I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don't have to see the color of a kimono to know that it is a kimono."
American Taylor Fritz also made a fashion statement by wearing a white BOSS suit inspired by Roger Federer's 2007 outfit. Fritz commented: "BOSS came to me with the idea of wanting to do it, and so we did it. You know, I wasn't 100 per cent sure how I felt, but after seeing the pictures after the match, I feel like it looked all right. I think people are going to be torn. 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."
Impact of Strict Dress Code
Wimbledon's strict all-white dress code has been a longstanding tradition, and the tournament's enforcement of it led to Berrettini's outfit being banned. The Italian's experience highlights the challenges players face when balancing sponsorship obligations with tournament regulations. As the tournament continues, fashion remains a talking point, with players like Osaka and Fritz embracing the opportunity to express themselves within the rules.
