- Carlos Alcaraz has revealed just how strict the Wimbledon organisers can be
- The two-time champion explained he was almost banned for a bizarre reason
- Alcaraz said he was told by powers above that he would not be allowed to play
Carlos Alcaraz has opened up on the extreme measures Wimbledon organisers take to maintain the competition’s reputation as the most prestigious in tennis.
The back-to-back defending champion has won the tournament twice, having beaten Novak Djokovic in 2023 and again successfully fended off the Serbian last year.
Alcaraz’s success in 2024 made him the ninth man in the Open Era to defend the Wimbledon title and the youngest to achieve this feat since the legendary Roger Federer.
In doing so, the 21-year-old also became the first male player born in the 2000s to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
But Alcaraz’s triumphs in SW19 were almost halted by a seemingly pedantic rule by the powers above.
The Spaniard explained that his coloured underwear almost landed him a suspension at Wimbledon, as they were deemed to be in violation of the tournament’s all-white kit policy.
Carlos Alcaraz said he was almost banned from Wimbeldon for wearing coloured underwear
The briefs were deemed to violate the prestigious tournament’s strict all-white kit policy
Alcaraz has won Wimbledon twice – in 2023 and 2024 – beating Novak Djokovic in both years
Alcaraz explained that the briefs were visible through his shorts, and that organisers told him he would not be allowed to play if he repeated the offence.
The world No 3 told the Netflix docuseries, My Way: ‘I think Wimbledon is one of the most elegant tournaments in the world, if not the most elegant one, be it for its prestige or its rules.
‘You can’t step onto the court unless you’re dressed in all white.
‘I was wearing colour briefs and you could see them through my shorts, and they called me out on them, saying, ‘Next time, we won’t let you play.’
‘I mean, this really goes to show you just how strict they can be!’
Victory at Wimbledon this year would secure Alcaraz a third title in a row. In doing so, he would become the youngest man in the Open Era to do so at the All England Club.
However, this achievement would still be a far cry off the record for the most consecutive titles on the hallowed grass courts.
Both Roger Federer (2003 to 2007) and Bjorn Borg (1976 to 1980) won five consecutive titles at Wimbledon.
