Wimbledon’s determination to reverse its ban on colored underwear has been welcomed by plenty of WTA gamers forward of this yr’s event.
The All England Membership got here below criticism from some feminine gamers for extending its all-white clothes coverage to underwear, which might trigger nervousness or embarrassment for some ladies in the event that they have been on their interval.
Wimbledon has banned gamers, each female and male, from carrying colored underwear since 2014 as a part of the normal all-white coverage.
However after plenty of gamers spoke out about the issue final yr, together with former World No 1 Billie Jean King, it was introduced in November {that a} rule change was coming.
“We’re dedicated to supporting the gamers and listening to their suggestions as to how they will carry out at their greatest,” All England Membership CEO Sally Bolton stated on the time. “I am happy to substantiate that, following session with gamers and representatives of a number of stakeholder teams, the Committee of Administration has taken the choice to replace the white clothes rule at Wimbledon.
Talking forward of the beginning of this yr’s competitors, World No 7 Coco Gauff stated it was “a giant aid”.
“I assist it so much,” she informed Sky Sports activities in a current interview. “I used to be on my interval final yr throughout Wimbledon and it was very disturbing. You will have the interval underwear that can assist you however it’s nonetheless behind your thoughts. Generally if you go to the toilet, I might go simply to test nothing was displaying.
“I believe it is going to relieve plenty of stress for me and different ladies within the locker room for certain. I am completely happy that is being talked about and the choice has been made.”
World No 11 Daria Kasatkina additionally welcomed the change.
“Lastly we have this little adjustment and I do not assume it is going to harm the event however for the gamers, for us, for the ladies, it is going to be such a giant deal,” the Russian stated.
“All the ladies are actually pleased with this determination as a result of it is one factor to deal on courtroom along with your opponent and your personal stress and nerves. If in case you have extra stress of interested by your interval and stuff and in case your skirt will get soiled, it is extra stress which you do not wish to take into consideration.”
Nevertheless, World No 6 and final yr’s Wimbledon finalist, Ons Jabeur, stated there was one other aspect to the problem too.
“There’s two issues. One factor, it is higher undoubtedly to not be paranoid. And the opposite factor, all people will know that you’ve got your interval. So I am unsure which a part of it’s good,” stated the Tunisian.
“I believe I do not assume I will put on something. If all the ladies will put on it, I believe it’s going to make it higher. However I believe it is an ideal factor that Wimbledon is attempting to assist ladies really feel extra snug on the courtroom.”
World No 18 Karolina Pliskova welcomed the rule change for many who needed it however stated she wasn’t going to start out carrying black shorts.
“I used to be by no means anxious about this,” Pliskova stated. “I believe some ladies possibly that they had this difficulty so I believe, yeah, it may be good for them, for the ladies which they have been struggling slightly bit with this or that they had a stress from it. I believe it will probably assist.”
The motion at Wimbledon begins on Monday, July 3.
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