Wimbledon is enforcing a strict rule that Judy Murray famously called for in 2018, making it the only Grand Slam tournament to require players to fetch their own towels. The rule, which was reversed by the ATP in 2024, remains in place at the All England Club for the 2026 tournament.
The Origin of the Rule
The issue dates back to 2018 when Fernando Verdasco snapped at a ball kid for not bringing him a towel quickly enough during the Shenzhen Open semi-final. Judy Murray publicly criticised Verdasco on X (formerly Twitter) and called for a rule change. She wrote, accompanied by an angry emoji and tagging both the ATP and WTA tours: "What about a rule that makes players get their own towels? And the ball kids just look after the tennis balls."
COVID-19 and the Rule Change
During the COVID-19 pandemic, new measures were introduced to stop ball kids from handling players' sweaty towels to reduce the risk of germ transmission. Under stricter hygiene protocols, players were required to collect their own towels during points. The ATP board later approved a rule change to permit players to request and be handed towels between points, as was customary before the pandemic. This change took effect after Wimbledon.
ATP Reversal and Wimbledon's Stance
In 2024, the ATP reversed its decision, allowing ball kids to hand towels to players again. However, Wimbledon chose to maintain the stricter rule. For the 2026 tournament, players must take their towels back to their seats or leave them hanging over the wall. They must walk to the back of the court to fetch and return their own towels from designated racks. Ball kids are now only responsible for retrieving and feeding balls, passing refreshments, holding umbrellas, and court maintenance.
Player Reactions
Carlos Alcaraz expressed frustration with the rule, saying it rushes players between points. He said: "Yes, absolutely. I mean, he told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on. I think for the player it is something bad. I mean, I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls. I mean, I'm not saying to go to a towel and taking my time. I feel like I can't ask for the balls. It's crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces."
Alcaraz added: "I mean, I think I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I'm concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can."
