Berrettini outfit rejected as “not white enough”

Berrettini outfit – Matteo Berrettini said Wimbledon refused to let him debut a Hugo Boss walk-on outfit because it was “not white enough,” after he shared promotional images online. The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Wimbledon’s all-white dress code, with other players

Matteo Berrettini’s Wimbledon walk-on plan was meant to land with a stylish flourish—beige jacket and all—but it ended at the dressing-room door.

The 30-year-old Italian revealed he was denied by Wimbledon bosses because the Hugo Boss outfit he wanted to wear was “not white enough.” He said the look was “a little bit off-white. ” adding that the issue was essentially down to shade. “I got refused by Wimbledon. It was not white enough. It was a little bit off-white.”.

Berrettini had already posted promotional images of the outfit on Instagram ahead of its unveiling. He described the jacket as smart and later admitted it was “a little brownish. ” which he said was enough for the All England Club to draw the line. “It’s okay. ” he said after explaining: “You could see it actually on my social media.” He also said he went as far as setting up a shoot for the planned look. but never got the chance to wear it on court. “I posted about it. I did a shooting with that. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go on court with that.”.

The fashion disappointment arrived after Berrettini’s on-court work had gone more smoothly. He advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over 20th seed Arthur Fils on Thursday.

His second-round win at Wimbledon added another layer of context to the moment—Berrettini is sponsored by Hugo Boss, as Taylor Fritz is, and he had hoped to follow Fritz’s fashionable lead on the Wimbledon walk-on.

Fritz has turned heads at SW19 by stepping out in a custom all-white Hugo Boss blazer-and-trousers ensemble. paired with a scarf as he crosses the grounds. The 28-year-old US player has also carried matching white holdall and headband. He said the partnership began with an idea from the brand: “I think Boss came to me with the idea of wanting to do it. and so we did it.” He admitted he wasn’t completely sure at first. but felt better once he saw the pictures after his opening match. “You know. I wasn’t 100 per cent sure how I felt. but after seeing the pictures after the match. I feel like it looked all right.”.

Still, Fritz acknowledged the gamble people take when they dress up for the ceremonial walk. “I think people are going to be torn,” he said. “I think some people are going to like it and some people are going to think that anyone who is dressed up to walk out is doing too much.” He also pointed to the fear of looking silly if performance doesn’t follow. “[You feel] maybe not more nervous. but you show up in a full outfit and get snipped in the first round. you kind of look stupid. You look really stupid, honestly.”.

Fritz’s tournament start. unlike Berrettini’s outfit plans. went cleanly enough to keep the spotlight on the clothes rather than the scoreline. The sixth seed beat Dusan Lajovic in straight sets to reach the second round. then followed with another second-round victory over fellow American Patrick Kypson. again without conceding a set.

Wimbledon’s all-white dress code is famously strict, and Berrettini’s refusal shows how narrow the margin can feel in practice. The rules apply from the moment players arrive on court, and the All England Club has a long history of measuring and enforcing colour compliance.

Other players have felt that scrutiny too in recent days. There has been an umpire’s ticking-off this week for Spain’s Jessica Bouzas after a black undershirt appeared visible beneath her white outfit. Bouzas later said: “A problem here is that they are very strict with many things.” She added: “I think it was a bit of black here. and you can’t do that. so I will have to sort it out. But yes, they are very strict with things like this, so now I’ll see how I can fix it.”.

The strictness is not a new story. Tennis legend Andre Agassi boycotted Wimbledon for three years—missing the 1988, 1989 and 1990 tournaments—before returning in 1991. When he came back. there was fevered speculation about what he might wear. and he arrived in an immaculate all-white look that some interpreted as a sarcastic gesture. Agassi went on to win the Wimbledon title the next year.

Even Roger Federer, one of the tournament’s most celebrated stars, has been pulled up. He was ordered in 2013 to go without the trainers with bright orange soles worn during his first-round match, even though he later won the Wimbledon title once in 1992, among his eight Grand Slam triumphs.

Wimbledon breaches of the dress code can potentially lead to fines of up to £15,700. Umpires typically issue warnings first, and can order a change of clothes.

The guidelines are detailed, too. Rule number four states: “Colour contained within patterns will be measured as if it is a solid mass of colour and should be within the one centimetre (10mm) guide.” It adds: “Logos formed by variations of material or patterns are not acceptable.”

The code itself has evolved. The all-white guidelines were largely adhered to by custom since the first Wimbledon tournament in 1877, though they were formalised in stricter new rules after Maria Bueno, from Brazil, wore a pink-trimmed dress and pink underwear in 1962.

For Berrettini, the outcome is simple: the outfit that looked sharp in photos wasn’t acceptable on the day. He moves on from the rejection after beating Arthur Fils. but the message from Wimbledon is already clear—at SW19. “off-white” can be the difference between a runway entrance and silence at the gate.

Matteo Berrettini Wimbledon Hugo Boss Taylor Fritz dress code all-white Arthur Fils Jessica Bouzas Naomi Osaka Roger Federer Andre Agassi