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Wimbledon Blocks Berrettini’s Hugo Boss Jacket for Not Being White Enough

The All England Club enforced its ‘‘almost entirely white’’ rule, exposing how tiny shade or trim differences decide whether sponsor walk‑on garments are permitted.

Overview

  • Matteo Berrettini said Friday that Wimbledon refused permission for a bespoke Hugo Boss jacket because it was off‑white with a slightly brownish collar, and he had posted promotional photos of the piece before being told he could not wear it on court.
  • Taylor Fritz, who is also a Hugo Boss ambassador, was allowed to walk on in a fully white BOSS suit, showing the rule can permit similar sponsor activations when garments meet the strict whiteness standard.
  • Wimbledon’s rule requires competitors to be ‘‘almost entirely white’’ from the court surround inward, and umpires have been warning players for visible non‑white items during the same fortnight.
  • Breaches can lead to an umpire ordering a clothing change and, in extreme or repeated cases, financial penalties reported up to about £15,700, though officials typically issue warnings first.
  • The episode underscores a long history of tight dress‑code enforcement at SW19, notes limited recent relaxations such as a 2022 allowance for women’s dark undershorts, and suggests brands and players will need to match exact shades to use walk‑on fashion without running afoul of the rules.