Matteo Berrettini told reporters on 5 July 2026 that Wimbledon refused his custom BOSS jacket, forcing him to stick to the all‑white dress code after his 6‑4, 7‑5, 3‑6, 6‑3 second‑round victory over France’s Arthur Fils.

What happened at SW19?

Berrettini arrived at the All England Club with a sleek, off‑white BOSS jacket that featured a subtle brown collar. Officials deemed the piece “not white enough” and denied him permission to wear it on court. The Italian star said the decision came just before his match, leaving him to compete in the standard attire.

He explained, “There was an option, but I got refused because it wasn’t white enough. It was a little bit off‑white and the collar was brownish.” The incident mirrors a growing trend of players using designer walk‑on outfits, a practice recently embraced by Taylor Fritz and Naomi Osaka.

How did the match unfold?

Despite the wardrobe setback, Berrettini delivered a solid performance against the 19‑year‑old Frenchman. He broke early in the first set, held serve with a series of powerful forehands, and closed the opening set 6‑4. The second set saw him dominate the baseline exchanges, sealing it 7‑5 after a tense deuce at 5‑5.

Fils fought back in the third, taking it 6‑3 with a string of aggressive returns. Yet Berrettini’s experience shone in the fourth, where he saved a break point at 3‑3 before cruising to a 6‑3 finish. The win moved him into the third round as the No. 6 seed.

Why does the outfit issue matter for Berrettini?

The refusal highlights Wimbledon’s strict adherence to its all‑white tradition, even as other Grand Slams relax dress‑code rules. For Berrettini, the incident underscores a tension between personal branding and tournament regulations. He noted that the jacket had already been featured in a social‑media shoot, suggesting he may showcase it elsewhere.

Fans and fashion observers see the episode as a missed opportunity for the Italian to make a visual statement on the grass courts, especially after Fritz’s BOSS suit drew considerable media buzz. Berrettini’s reaction was measured; he accepted the decision and focused on his upcoming match.

What’s next for Matteo Berrettini?

The Italian now prepares for a third‑round showdown with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, scheduled for 7 July 2026. Dimitrov, a former Wimbledon finalist, poses a tactical challenge with his versatile shot‑making and left‑handed spin.

If Berrettini advances, a potential semifinal against Fritz could materialise, setting up a high‑profile clash between two BOSS‑sponsored athletes. Both players sit in the same half of the draw, meaning the quarterfinals could produce a headline‑making encounter.

And while the jacket controversy may fade, it adds a layer of narrative intrigue to Berrettini’s Wimbledon campaign. Whether he can translate his on‑court form into a deeper run remains to be seen, but his resilience after the dress‑code setback suggests he’s ready for whatever the grass throws his way.