At Wimbledon, Tennis Stars Are Still Scoring Points for Fashion

Wimbledon is one of the most famous tennis tournaments in the world. It has been played in London since 1877. But lately, the grass courts have started to look as much like a fashion show as a sports event. Players like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Maria Sharapova have been turning heads with their stylish outfits. And fans are paying close attention to every look.

Serena Williams showed up to warm up in a sharp white trench coat with a belt. Roger Federer wore a white cardigan with the letter 'F' on it. Maria Sharapova played in a sheer top with pleats and matching shorts — a look that Nike calls a 'tennis tuxedo.' After beating Sharapova, her opponent Alla Kudryavtseva joked, 'I don't like her outfit. It was one of my motivations to beat her.' All three outfits were made by Nike, and the tennis tuxedo shirt sells for $55 on Nike's website.

Venus Williams made the boldest style move of all. She wore a twist-front tennis dress from her own clothing line, called EleVen. The dress was sold at an affordable store called Steve & Barry's, which meant everyday shoppers could buy it. It was a big moment for a tournament that started as a sport for the very wealthy. Even so, Venus spent a lot of time pulling at her top to make sure it stayed in place.

Some fans worry that fashion is taking over the sport. But many people say that is part of what makes Wimbledon special. It is one of the last big sports events with a strict dress code. Players must wear white, and women who wear low-cut tops can actually be asked to leave the court. In a world where people wear flip-flops almost everywhere, Wimbledon's rules stand out.

Tennis has had a huge effect on the way people dress all over the world. The sneakers, shorts, and polo shirts we wear in summer all came from the tennis court. Long before big sports brands like Nike and Adidas signed deals with players, fashion designers were already getting involved. As tennis became more popular, designers began making sportswear, and that slowly replaced more formal clothing in everyday life.

In the early days of Wimbledon, women had to wear long dresses with sleeves and stockings. But over time, tennis helped change those strict fashion rules. A French champion named Suzanne Lenglen became a style icon in the 1920s. Designer Jean Patou made her a knee-length pleated skirt and a sleeveless cardigan, which were considered very bold at the time. When Lenglen retired from tennis, she became a fashion designer herself.

Other famous designers followed Patou's lead. Names like Lanvin, Schiaparelli, and Hermès all designed tennis clothes. Today, sportswear is a key part of almost every major fashion brand in the world. Tennis helped make that happen.

As tennis grew more popular, its stars became celebrities. French player René Lacoste, nicknamed 'the Crocodile,' introduced his famous polo shirt with a small crocodile logo in 1929. That shirt became a wardrobe staple for men and women around the world. It also helped inspire the clothing empire built by designer Ralph Lauren.

By the 1970s and '80s, most players were more famous for their deals with big sports brands than for their personal style. Tennis clothing in the '80s and '90s was mostly about performance — stretchy, breathable fabrics that helped players move faster. Style took a back seat to function during those decades.

But things have changed again, and tennis is back in fashion. The Williams sisters have played a big role in that. People still remember Venus and Serena's colorful hair beads at Wimbledon in 1999. Venus also wore a famous corset dress in 2003, designed with Diane von Furstenberg and Reebok. Today's tennis stars walk red carpets, sit front row at Fashion Week, and appear in magazines like Vogue.

Tennis players have a freedom that athletes in other sports simply do not have. Basketball players wear the same sweaty jerseys every game. Baseball players can barely change their uniforms at all. But tennis players can compete at the highest level and still express their personal style. That is why the grass runway at Wimbledon is not going away anytime soon.