Wimbledon will allow women to wear colored undershorts, in nod to period concerns

Wimbledon’s famously strict rules requiring all-white clothing for its players now comes with an exception: female players can wear dark-colored undershorts beneath their skirts or shorts.

The change comes after current and former players described the stress of having to wear an all-white ensemble at the tennis tournament while on their menstrual periods.

The organizers of Wimbledon said the new rule follows discussions with the Women’s Tennis Association, clothing manufacturers and medical teams.

“This means that from next year, women and girls competing at The Championships will have the option of wearing coloured undershorts if they choose,” Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, said in a statement. “It is our hope that this rule adjustment will help players focus purely on their performance by relieving a potential source of anxiety.”