Wimbledon – Why the sacred turf is exciting for amateur players from Zurich too (and why you now need white clothes)

Wimbledon: More than just a tournament

If you play tennis – whether you slog it out on your club's clay courts once a week or have already played on grass yourself – then you know Wimbledon.
It's more than just a tournament. It's a religion. In white. A tournament where prestige is worth more than prize money.

But why? What makes Wimbledon so special that even non-tennis players suddenly start eating strawberries as if they were British royalty?

The Wimbledon Magic – All in White and Quite Special

Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam tournament in the world. It has been played there since 1877 – and on grass. Yes, real grass. Not artificial turf. Not carpet. But the stuff you have barbecues on or your dog pees on. The care and maintenance of this surface is enormous, so it's not surprising that we hardly have any grass courts in Switzerland. But the groundspeople at Wimbledon turn it into a green carpet of perfection. And that has consequences:

• The ball bounces lower
• The game is faster
• The slice is suddenly king
• And players with textbook net play suddenly shine as they did back in the 1990s

So if you've always thought: "Why does my tennis never look as elegant as Federer's?" – then try it on grass. Or blame the weather. Or your racket. Or the surface – the pros do it too.

But: Wimbledon inspires.
And in a completely different way than Roland Garros or the US Open. Because Wimbledon stands for style, class, and focus on the essentials. No advertising boards, no loud outfits. Just you, your game, and clean white. Pay attention to it on TV in the coming days; until recently, I wasn't aware that Centre Court is completely ad-free. Except, of course, the Rolex watch, which has managed to be visibly hanging above the scoreboard every year since 1978.

The grass challenges you – and your equipment

If you ever get the chance to play on grass (e.g., during a club holiday or in Germany), you'll notice:

• Your normal tennis shoes slip like on black soap
• Your topspin shots fizzle out because the ball doesn't bounce high enough
• And your classic baseliner style suddenly only works half as well

That's no shame. Wimbledon shows us: Adaptation is everything.

Pros play with harder strings, flatter shots, more slice. Hobby players should:

• practice flat serves
• less spin, more direction
• experiment with net play
• and maybe watch a Pat Rafter video on YouTube beforehand (Google him – it's worth it)

Tactical Finesse for Everyday Life

What you can learn from Wimbledon as a hobby player:

• The first serve counts – especially on fast surfaces
• Positioning is everything: those who stand well don't have to lunge
• And: Slice is not an emergency shot, but an art form

And honestly: whoever masters the slice elegantly automatically gains 12% more respect on the court. It's true. We haven't measured it, but it feels right.

History lives on – even on your sofa

Federer vs. Nadal 2008. Probably the best match of all time.
Isner vs. Mahut 2010 – the longest match of all time (over 11 hours – and yes, it wasn't always exciting).
Navratilova with 9 Wimbledon titles.
Djokovic, serving his way through the years as if he were one with the grass.

Wimbledon is full of stories – and you can experience them live every year. SRF broadcasts, but sometimes you have to switch to Eurosport or BBC. Tip: English commentary is often golden.

Speaking of white: Dress Wimbledon-like

Traditionally, all players at Wimbledon must be dressed entirely in white. Even underwear. Even socks. Everything.
Do you find it exaggerated? Yes.
Does it still look incredibly cool? Also yes.

And here's your advantage as a spectator:
You can wear white – but you don't have to. But if you want to: Now is the best time.

Because right now, we have discounts on all white tennis outfits – for women, men, and kids.
Whether you'll play like Federer is unclear.
Whether you'll look like someone who knows what they're doing? Guaranteed.

Here you can find all white clothes, simply redeem the code ALLWHITE and benefit from an additional 20% discount. (Discount code valid until 06.07.25)