The United States Tennis Association is the governing body for tennis in the U.S. Its stated mission is to foster tennis in the U.S., from the grass level all the way to its showcase event, the U.S. Open. Founded in 1881, it is the largest tennis organization in the world. Its attitude toward attire has evolved with the larger culture, which dresses in a much more casual, and sometimes flashy, manner than previous generations.
Dress Code
The USTA dress code requires "proper tennis attire" for all sanctioned USTA tournaments and League Tennis matches. The word "proper" is not defined. At a USTA event in Chicago, the dress code stated that improper clothes could include, but were not not limited to, sports bras worn as a shirt, shirts with references to sex, drugs, alcohol or tobacco, or compression shorts worn not covered by shorts or a skirt.
Changing Attire
The USTA allows players in tournaments to have breaks for the bathroom and to change their clothes, which players often do in long matches conducted under hot, sunny skies. In 2011, the USTA updated its rules to allow tournament directors to limit the number of bathroom/attire breaks if announced in advance. The updated rules also allow players to change their attire and use the bathroom during normal rest periods.
Pushing the Envelope
According to The New York Times, tennis players often have pushed the envelope when it come to "appropriate" attire. The champion Helen Moody Wills wore a dress that was just short of knee-length at Wimbledon in 1935 and created a buzz. Anna White tried to wear a white body suit at Wimbledon in 1985, but officials rejected the request. On the men's side, Jimmy Conners resurrected the sweater vest, Andre Agassi wore neon bike shorts, and Rafael Nadal showed up in pirate shorts and muscle shirts. At the 2010 French Open, Venus Williams wore a waist-high dress, more of a corset, with sheer underpants.
High Fashion
In 2006, the USTA fined Bethanie Mattek-Sands a reported $1,000 for showing up at the U.S. Open wearing a cowboy hat. However, in 2006, the organization decided to join the fashion party. The USTA welcomed Maria Sharapova, who played in a little black cocktail dress, Mattek, who wore a sheer, sleeveless, shocking pink outfit and Serena Williams, who showed off a purple, red and bronze number. The USTA marketed the tournament with the slogan, "It's Showtime! Where High Fashion Meets High Action." The only tennis organization that preserves the tennis whites tradition is Wimbledon, which requires players to wear "predominately white" outfits. However, even Wimbledon, which hosts the tennis competition during the 2012 London Olympics Games, announced that contestants would be welcome to wear colored outfits.
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