The global sports world was shaken this week by the death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a fatal car crash in Spain. Hundreds of teams, organizations, athletes, and public figures expressed their shock and grief over the tragedy, and Wimbledon joined that list by introducing an exception to a traditional rule.
The organizers of the Grand Slam event in England granted permission for Portuguese players to alter the tournament’s strict dress code, which has been in place for decades. The rule, a custom since the inaugural edition in 1877 and official since 1963, requires participating players to dress entirely in white.
However, on Friday, Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral played their respective matches at Wimbledon wearing a black mourning ribbon on their white shirts in tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.
“Yesterday someone suggested it and I thought it was a really good idea,” said Cabral via Raquetc after his doubles match alongside Lucas Miedler, which ended in a two-set loss to Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. “Initially it was a black armband, but through the relations office they told me this morning that they wouldn’t authorize it and the only option they gave me was to wear the black ribbon. So it was that or nothing, and it was an honor.”
Nuno Borges, for his part, wore the black ribbon in his third-round match against Karen Khachanov. There, the Portuguese player lost 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 and was eliminated from the tournament by the World No. 20.
Other exceptions at Wimbledon
While the tradition of all-white clothing has lasted over 150 years, there have been several occasions in the past when Wimbledon organizers have made exceptions for special circumstances.
One of the most notable came during the London 2012 Olympic Games, when the All England Club temporarily set the rule aside to allow athletes to wear the representative colors of their respective countries.
And even in the Wimbledon tournament itself, there have been some relaxations in recent years. The most notable case involves female players, who have been allowed since 2023 to wear dark-colored undershorts “provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirt” to offer more comfort, particularly for players who are menstruating.