Modern tennis started in the United Kingdom during the late 19th century and was originally known as lawn tennis. Changes in culture and advances in court, racquet, string and ball technology has led the game to evolve in numerous ways over the last century. Tennis fashions have also changed dramatically since the advent of the sport.
Tennis Clothing
Tennis is one of the few sports that do not require a uniform, and as such, fashion has become a large part of the culture and sport. White clothing was the original requirement or tradition, both for its clean crisp appearance as well as the functionality of being cooler while playing in the hot sun. These days the majority of professional tournaments and private tennis clubs do not require white clothing to be worn. The change in rules has been welcome to players who enjoy showing their individuality on the court through their personal choice of fashions and colors; professional players like Andre Agassi and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are infamous for pushing the bar by wearing unconventional clothing at tournaments.
Wimbledon
The Championships at Wimbledon takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club and is the oldest professional tournament; it is still considered to be the most prestigious of the four Grand Slams that take place every year beginning in the last week of June and lasting for two weeks. Wimbledon is also the last pro tournament requiring players to wear white clothing, preferring to maintain the sport's original traditions. This along with other traditions, such as no play on the middle Sunday, are what many tennis fans feel set Wimbledon apart from the Australian, U.S. and French Open. Wimbledon's requirements are that the clothing worn on court be almost entirely white, which means that players are allowed to have accents of other colors on their clothing.
What to Wear
Some tennis clubs in the United States or around the world may still follow tradition and require all white clothing. Rules generally follow the same guidelines as used at Wimbledon, however, you should check with your particular club. Most clubs in the United States that have hardcourts require the soles of your tennis shoes to be white in order to prevent marks and scuffs being left on the court.
2012 Olympics
Briefly stepping out of tradition, Wimbledon will alter its white clothing rules for the 2012 Olympics, which will be held in London, with the tennis competition taking place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Reported by Bloomberg, the All England Lawn Tennis Club's chief executive officer Ian Ritchie has stated that since it is "someone else's event" players will be allowed to wear their own chosen Olympic outfits on the courts, in whatever colors they choose.
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