Women’s tennis star highlights major concern with Wimbledon’s new underwear rule set to come in for the first time
A TENNIS star has voiced her concerns over the new Wimbledon rule change regarding underwear.
Tunisian Ons Jabeur is currently ranked No.6 on the WTA Tour and is preparing for action at the SW19 spectacular.
But the 28-year-old has scrutinised the decision to now allow female players to wear dark-coloured underwear at Wimbledon.
Previous regulations had dictated that all stars were prohibited from wearing any colour other than white.
And that stipulation had forced some women entrants to go braless back in 2014.
The amended rule has now been introduced ahead of the first round of qualification matches.
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And it now allows players to choose their preferred colour of underwear in the aim of reducing paranoia.
But speaking before the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, Jabeur said: “There is two things. One thing, it’s better definitely not to be paranoid.
"And the other thing, everybody will know that you have your period. So I’m not sure which part of it is good.”
She added. “I think I don’t think I’m going to wear anything. If all the girls will wear it, I think it will make it better.
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“But I think it’s a great thing that Wimbledon is trying to help women feel more comfortable on the court.”
The All England Club announced the update to the Wimbledon rulebook towards the end of 2022.
Chief executive Sally Bolton said: “It is our hope that this rule adjustment will help players focus purely on their performance by relieving a potential source of anxiety.”
The guidelines had previously stated: “Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play [including due to perspiration] must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre [10mm].”
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