Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz has revealed a surprising detail about his participation in the prestigious grass-court tournament: he was nearly banned because of his choice of underwear.
The Spanish star has won the tournament at SW19 twice, claiming back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
In both championship matches, the 21-year-old successfully defeated tennis icon Novak Djokovic.
However, Wimbledon is known for its exceptionally strict all-white dress code, which applies to every player without exception.
This rigid rule nearly cost Alcaraz his place in the tournament, as he shared that wearing coloured briefs beneath his shorts landed him in trouble with officials.
Speaking on the Netflix docuseries `My Way`, Alcaraz explained: “I believe Wimbledon is one of the most elegant tournaments globally, perhaps even the most elegant, due to its prestige and regulations.
“Players cannot step onto the court unless they are dressed entirely in white.
“I was wearing colored briefs, and they were visible through my shorts. I was cautioned about them and told, `Next time, you won`t be allowed to play.`
“This really highlights just how stringent their rules are!”
This memorable warning was enough for the world number 3 to ensure he followed the rules strictly thereafter.
Alcaraz has secured four Grand Slam titles to date, with only the Australian Open remaining elusive. Beyond his Wimbledon wins, he won the US Open in 2022 and the French Open in 2024.
He also reached the gold medal match at the Paris Olympic Games last year, though he did not win.
Recently, Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the ATP 1000 Madrid Open due to a right leg injury, compounded by ongoing left hamstring issues.
He had received treatment for his right groin during his match against Holger Rune at the Barcelona Open the previous weekend. Subsequent MRI tests revealed a problem with his right leg abductor muscle.
During a press conference, he stated: “I was unable to practice throughout the week and discovered I had hamstring and groin injuries. I had to listen to my body and make the correct decision.
“On Monday, I will undergo further medical tests, after which we will have a clearer idea of how long I will be sidelined.”
This injury comes just over a month before the start of Roland Garros, where Alcaraz is the defending champion.
He was also scheduled to compete at the Rome Masters but may now be forced to miss that tournament as well.
“Making this decision is difficult because Madrid is the first tournament I attended as a child, and it holds the most special significance for me as a place to play,” Alcaraz added.
“However, prioritizing Roland Garros was a major factor in my decision to pause and recover properly.”
