Wimbledon is all about prestige and glory, but it’s also a little about style and panache. While the stars playing at the Championships give their blood, sweat and tears for that coveted piece of silverware, they never shy away from making fashion statements through their clothing and accessories.
There are numerous accessories that a tennis player carries on court, and some of the more basic ones are provided by the tournament organizers themselves. The official Wimbledon towel, for instance, makes a lot of appearances throughout the Championships (you can buy your own Wimbledon towel from the Welspun store).
But there are also quite a few accessories that the stars have made their own at Wimbledon. Here’s a look at 5 trademark accessories that have been part of the Championships:
Roger Federer headband
Federer is widely considered one of the greatest players, if not the greatest, in the history of the game, and his record at the Championships speaks for itself.
The Swiss Maestro holds 17 Grand Slam titles and has won as many as seven Wimbledon titles – the joint highest by any male player.
He has been heralded by peers, juniors and predecessors as the greatest, but there are some things even Roger Federer can’t do without! The 34-year-old is rarely, if ever, seen without his distinctive white headband. His luxurious locks of hair have been the subject of much fawning from his female fans, so it’s no surprise he likes to keep them in place during every match.
Even the way he ties the headband has a trademark feel to it; you can identify him just by looking at the top of his head!
Serena Williams – locket
Serena Williams has always been known for her signature style sense, and she has traditionally used Wimbledon as the stage to showcase her more fashionable accessories. While the large hoop earrings were a trademark of hers during her early career, lately she has taken to sporting more understated lockets and pendants.
The heart locket that she wore during the 2009 Wimbledon Championships was particularly memorable. While she dusted off all her opponents (except for Elena Dementieva in the semifinals) in style, her sartorial accessories were no less remarkable.
Rafael Nadal – Richard Mille signature watch
Spanish former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is not playing at this edition of the Championships, but he’s had plenty of success on the lawns of SW19. The two-time Wimbledon champion is associated with luxury French watchmakers Richard Mille, and the brand created a signature watch for him a couple of years ago.
Nadal’s watch is said to cost upwards of $850,000. Watches by the manufacturers are so exclusive and expensive that less than 100 people in the world can afford them.
The watch, made exclusively for Nadal, is named the Whirlpool Rafael Nadal in his honour. It weighs a whopping 20 grams – making it impressive that he can serve so well with it on his wrist!
Andy Murray – wedding ring
This may not be an ‘accessory’ in the technical sense of the term, but World No. 2 Andy Murray considers his wedding ring a good luck charm! The Scot, who won the Wimbledon title in 2013, ties his ring to his shoelaces ahead of every match he plays.
Considering he and partner of over 10 years Kim Sears married last year and this year welcomed their first child, with Murray winning a slew of titles since – including a title win over Novak Djokovic, we’d say it’s working.
Pat Cash and his checkered bandana
Australian ace Pat Cash won the title here at Wimbledon 29 years ago. And although he was never able to hit that level of Grand Slam success again, he became known for his distinctive style of play and easygoing demeanour on court.
Cash was always seen with a distinctive checquered bandana that he used to keep the hair and sweat out of his face – and fans became enamoured with the bands, so much so that Cash would go on to put them on sale on his own website.
But there’s one accessory all the players share – and that’s the iconic green and purple Wimbledon towel. And it’s manufactured right here in India by Welspun’s Spaces! You can order it for yourself from the Welspun store.
