3 Women Who Broke Tennis' Strict Fashion Rules & Looked Incredible On The Court

Tennis has long been associated with having to follow certain etiquette, and that doesn't just go for spectators. The players always look so polished on the court, even as they're sweating under the sun, and that's because of the strict clothing rules they have to follow. While there are several major tournaments out there, Wimbledon has the most rigid guidelines for competitors, prohibiting any non-white attire, including cream and off-white. They're only allowed a slim stripe of color, no more than one centimeter, and that goes for all accessories and shoes as well.

The U.S. Open isn't as strict, but according to their handbook, players have to wear traditional tennis clothing. However, as they say, rules are made to be broken, and plenty of female pros served sartorially on the court. We love a star athlete who has fun with fashion, and several have boldly bucked tradition with their eye-catching looks.

There's no other tennis player quite like Naomi Osaka, who manages to meld avant-garde fashion with the sport. Prior to her match against Laura Siegemund at the French Open on May 26, 2026 the trendsetter showed up in a dramatic all-black outfit, only to reveal a sequined gold top and skirt. Her opponent complained about the time it took Okasa to strip down, and told TNT Sports, "In our sport, at every tournament they count every second, right up until you've unpacked your water bottle. But she can have a minute and a half to change." Siegemund added, "I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are — every second is now being watched so closely for us."

Osaka previously showed up at the Australian Open in January 2026 wearing a full-on jellyfish look, walking onto the court wearing a white hat with a trailing veil and pleated pants. While she went for a less restrictive 'fit during the match, her Nike tennis dress consisted of ruffles resembling a jellyfish's tentacles. Now this is one way to try the tenniscore style loved by Zendaya and Hailey Bieber.

The stunning style transformation of Serena Williams is something to be studied, as she has been fearless when it comes to fashion over the years. In 2018, the multiple Grand Slam champion made a statement when she competed in the French Open wearing a form-fitting black bodysuit less than a year after having her daughter, Olympia. "I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero," Williams shared (via The Guardian). Aside from looking like a Marvel character, the tennis legend's catsuit provided her body support after having birth complications. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots, and, God, I don't know how many I have had in the past 12 months. So it is definitely a little functionality to it."

Unfortunately, Williams' catsuit was frowned upon by the president of the French Tennis Federation at the time, Bernard Giudicelli. "I think that sometimes we've gone too far," he said, per ESPN. As for whether catsuits will be allowed again, he stated, "It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place." After the ban, Nike, the brand responsible for making the one-piece, posted on X (formerly Twitter), "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers."

Long before Serena Williams created buzz for her black bodysuit at the French Open, tennis player Anne White shocked spectators and Wimbledon heads when she competed in 1985 wearing a white bodysuit. "I first came up with the idea about two months ago," White revealed, per The Washington Post. Knowing that bodysuits are everyone's best friend, she continued, "The other girls thought it was great and thought I had a lot of guts to wear it. They thought it was funny. My friends just said, 'Go for it Whitey.'"

Although White had adhered to the tournament's rule of wearing all white, her 'fit of choice was shocking at the time, and she was forbidden to wear the bodysuit ever again. "I was taken to the principal's office by Alan Mills at Wimbledon, and I was basically told I can't wear that suit again, and it was not suitable attire in the eyes of the All England Club. The next day I had to show up in traditional attire, and I lost 6-3 in the third," she told Sky Sports. White added, "I wanted to prove a point that it was fashion and function, and I think I was just a little ahead of my time."