Tennis fashion is often as compelling as the sport itself. Players like Venus and Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal have pushed the envelope on court apparel. Since clothing must be approved by referees before a match, none of the outlandish, revealing or downright crazy getups has been outright banished, but they have certainly made headlines. A look into the history of the types of tennis apparel gives greater insight into the fascination with pushing boundaries to bring attention to the sport.
History of Apparel
The history of tennis apparel dates at least to 1528, when, "New York" magazine reports, tennis enthusiast Henry VIII commission suits to be made especially for the game. Until the late 1800s, women were expected to play in their skirts. In 1919, Suzanne Lenglen debuted a knee-length dress on her way to winning Wimbledon, which fanned the flames of scandal and even prompted some spectators to leave the court. In 1920, Bill Tilden set off a fashion frenzy by wearing cable-knit sweaters on the court --- the beginning of what is known now as "preppy" clothing. By 1949, the fashion tides had changed enough that Gussy Moran wore a skirt short enough that Wimbledon spectators could see the lace-trimmed panties underneath.
Clothing Rules
The United States Tennis Association and each major professional tennis tournament have rules governing appropriate apparel --- and those rules are subject to interpretation. While cutoff shorts, denim and sweatsuits are typically not allowed, a referee has the final say in what is appropriate on the court. Until 1970, tennis players were required to wear all white at the U.S. Open. Pastels were allowed, "New York" explains, after complaints from TV viewers who couldn't tell one player from another; the rules have since been broadened to include virtually any color. The tennis community enjoys its influence on fashion trends, so rules and regulations regarding clothing are enforced with a light touch.
Modern Tennis Apparel
Modern tennis greats have often shown little regard for the traditions surrounding the age-old game. From Andre Agassi's neon pink outfit at the 1990 French Open to Rafael Nadal's 2009 stint with pirate pants and the Williams sisters wearing of short, more revealing outfits, it's clear that tennis apparel is up for grabs where rules are concerned. While there are still purists who play in traditional duds, it's the outlandish outfits that garner the most attention during tournaments, generating more publicity for the game.
Accessories
While most sports frown upon accessories like jewelry, tennis seems to welcome the added embellishment. The original "tennis bracelet" belonged to player Chris Evert, who dropped her bracelet while playing the 1987 U.S. Open, causing diamonds to scatter on the court and game play to stop while she collected them; jewelers very soon got their own versions into sales cases. Maria Sharapova caused a stir by wearing signature drop earrings to play --- later creating her own jewelry line. Tennis players have plenty of leeway when it comes to accessories on the court, so long as it doesn't affect their game, or their opponents'.
Member Comments