No. Female tennis players do not have to wear skirts at Wimbledon. They may compete in shorts, skorts or tennis dresses, provided their clothing complies with the tournament’s “almost entirely white” rule. For brands working with a custom tennis skirts manufacturer, the main requirement is therefore colour compliance rather than producing skirts for every female player.
Female players may also wear solid mid- or dark-coloured undershorts. However, those undershorts must not extend below the outer shorts or skirt.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Must female players wear skirts? | No |
| Can women compete in shorts? | Yes |
| Must the outer clothing be white? | Yes, almost entirely |
| Are coloured undershorts allowed? | Yes, subject to the length rule |
| Does the same rule apply to spectators? | No. These are player clothing rules |
What Does Wimbledon’s Dress Code Actually Require?
Wimbledon does not prescribe one specific garment for female players. Its rules concentrate on whether the clothing is suitable for tennis and whether it follows the tournament’s colour requirements.
According to Wimbledon’s official Clothing and Equipment rules, competitors must wear suitable tennis clothing that is almost entirely white from the moment they enter the court surround.
The regulations are more detailed than a general request to “wear white”:
- Off-white and cream are not considered white.
- Large coloured panels or blocks are not permitted.
- A single coloured trim may be used around certain seams, necklines or sleeve cuffs, but it must be no wider than one centimetre.
- Shorts, skirts and tracksuit bottoms must be completely white apart from permitted trim.
- Shoes must be almost entirely white, while the soles and laces must be completely white.
- Caps, headbands, wristbands and socks are also covered by the rules.
- Clothing worn during matches and practice sessions on the Championship courts must comply.
None of these requirements states that women must wear skirts. In fact, the rules refer separately to shorts and skirts, making it clear that both can form part of an acceptable Wimbledon outfit.
Can Female Players Wear Shorts at Wimbledon?
Women can wear shorts at Wimbledon as long as the shorts qualify as suitable tennis attire and comply with the white clothing regulations.
The impression that skirts are compulsory comes largely from what viewers usually see on court. Many female players choose skirts, skorts or tennis dresses, while shorts remain less common. That pattern reflects tradition, sponsorship, product availability and personal preference—not a rule requiring women to compete in a skirt.
Women’s tennis shorts may differ from typical men’s styles. They are often shorter, more fitted and designed to work with the movements involved in serving, lunging and changing direction. They may also include secure pockets or internal ball-storage features.
The choice between shorts and a skirt therefore belongs to the player, provided the final outfit satisfies Wimbledon’s regulations.
Tennis Skirt, Skort, Shorts or Dress: What Is the Difference?
Several garments may look similar when a player is moving quickly on court. This can make it difficult to tell whether someone is wearing a skirt, a skort or a dress with separate undershorts.
| Garment | Typical construction | Permitted at Wimbledon? |
|---|---|---|
| Tennis skirt | An outer skirt worn with separate undershorts | Yes |
| Tennis skort | A skirt-style outer layer with integrated shorts | Yes |
| Tennis shorts | A standalone pair of performance shorts | Yes |
| Tennis dress | A one-piece tennis garment, normally paired with undershorts | Yes |
A tennis skirt is primarily the outer garment. Players usually wear compression shorts or ball shorts underneath it for coverage and support.
A skort combines both elements in one garment. From the outside, it looks like a skirt, but it has fitted shorts underneath. This is why many outfits described casually as “tennis skirts” are technically skorts.
Brands working with a private label tennis skirts and skort supplier should specify whether the inner shorts are integrated or separate, how much compression they provide and whether they include ball-storage pockets.
Standalone tennis shorts provide a different fit and appearance. They can offer convenient pocket storage and remove the need for an outer skirt layer.
A tennis dress combines the top and skirt portion in a single garment. Depending on its construction, the player may wear separate compression shorts underneath.
For performance, the garment type matters less than its fit and construction. A well-designed tennis outfit should allow unrestricted serving and lateral movement, manage moisture and provide secure coverage throughout a match.
Why Do So Many Female Tennis Players Still Wear Skirts?
Skirts remain strongly associated with women’s tennis, but their popularity does not prove that they are mandatory.
Tradition is one reason. Dresses and skirts have been part of women’s tennis clothing for generations, so the silhouette has become closely connected with the sport’s visual identity.
Modern tennis skirts are also very different from the restrictive garments worn in the early history of the game. Lightweight stretch fabrics, shaped waistbands and performance undershorts allow players to move freely while maintaining the familiar skirt appearance.
Other reasons include:
- Personal preference: Some players simply feel more comfortable or confident in a skirt or dress.
- Freedom of movement: A loose outer skirt does not need to follow the leg as closely as conventional shorts.
- Built-in coverage: Skorts combine an outer skirt with fitted internal shorts.
- Ball storage: Inner shorts can hold a spare tennis ball securely, while some designs include dedicated pockets.
- Sponsor collections: Clothing sponsors often develop coordinated dresses and skorts for major tournaments.
- Visual identity: A distinctive dress or skirt can help create a recognisable player look while remaining within Wimbledon’s colour restrictions.
For retailers and sportswear brands, a wholesale women’s tennis clothing supplier may offer skirts, skorts, shorts and dresses within the same collection so that customers can choose according to fit, coverage and style preferences.
These are practical and commercial reasons rather than tournament requirements. Other players may prefer shorts because they are simpler, easier to layer or more familiar during training.
What Changed for Women’s Undershorts in 2023?
Wimbledon’s white clothing rules previously applied to visible underwear as well as outer garments. This created particular concern for players competing during their periods.
Following discussions about comfort and anxiety, Wimbledon announced a rule adjustment in November 2022. The change took effect at the 2023 Championships.
Female players may now wear solid mid- or dark-coloured undershorts, provided they are no longer than the outer shorts or skirt. This means the undershorts should not extend visibly below the hem while the player is standing.
The exception is relatively narrow:
- It applies to female players’ undershorts.
- The colour must be solid rather than patterned.
- The undershorts should be mid- or dark-coloured.
- They cannot be longer than the outer shorts or skirt.
- The remaining visible outfit must still follow Wimbledon’s white clothing regulations.
The change did not remove the all-white rule for women’s skirts, dresses or outer shorts. Instead, it created a specific exception intended to reduce a source of anxiety for female competitors.
Why Does Wimbledon Require Players to Wear White?
Wimbledon’s white clothing tradition is one of the features that distinguishes it from the other Grand Slam tournaments.
The custom developed during a period when tennis was closely associated with social clubs and formal standards of dress. White clothing was considered appropriate partly because it made perspiration less noticeable than darker or coloured fabrics.
Although tennis clothing has changed dramatically, Wimbledon has retained the white aesthetic as part of the tournament’s identity. The modern rules define the acceptable amount and placement of colour more precisely than the original tradition did.
Players can still express individual style through silhouette, fabric texture, pleating, layering and garment construction. However, they have considerably less freedom to use colour than they do at most other professional tournaments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can female players wear shorts at Wimbledon?
Yes. Wimbledon’s rules do not require female competitors to wear skirts. Women may wear suitable white tennis shorts that comply with the tournament’s clothing and equipment regulations.
Do all tennis players have to wear white at Wimbledon?
Players must wear clothing that is almost entirely white when competing or practising on the Championship courts. The rule covers outer clothing, footwear and many accessories. Off-white and cream do not qualify as white.
Can women wear coloured undershorts at Wimbledon?
Yes. Female players may wear solid mid- or dark-coloured undershorts, provided they are no longer than their outer shorts or skirt. This exception has applied since the 2023 Championships.
Is a tennis skort the same as a tennis skirt?
Not exactly. A tennis skirt is an outer skirt that may be worn with separate shorts. A skort combines a skirt-style outer layer with built-in shorts. In casual conversation, however, both are often called tennis skirts.
Conclusion
Female tennis players do not have to wear skirts at Wimbledon. They can choose shorts, skorts or dresses according to their comfort, playing style and sponsorship arrangements.
What Wimbledon controls most closely is colour. The visible outfit must be almost entirely white, with only narrowly defined exceptions for trim, medical equipment and women’s mid- or dark-coloured undershorts.
For brands developing coordinated dresses, skorts and performance undershorts, a custom tennis dress manufacturer can help translate these clothing requirements into appropriate fabrics, patterns, coverage and ball-storage features.