We’re nearing the peak of this year’s Wimbledon Championships after it kicked off last week (30 June) with the two-week sporting event set to go on until next week (13 July
Wimbledon Breaks 148-Year Tradition to Honour Late Liverpool Star Diogo Jota
The world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, Wimbledon, has broken its strict all-white dress code for the first time in 148 years following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota.
Founded in 1877, Wimbledon has long been revered not only for showcasing world-class tennis talent but also for its iconic traditions, royal appearances, and famously rigid rules—including the requirement that players wear only white on court.
However, in an unprecedented move, organisers have decided to make an exception this year, allowing players to wear black armbands to honour Jota’s memory—a rare and powerful gesture in light of the devastating news.
Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 25, tragically lost their lives in the early hours of Thursday morning, July 3rd, when their car veered off the road and caught fire near Zamora, Spain. Authorities confirmed no other vehicles were involved. Emergency responders were unable to save the two men.
Just 11 days before the accident, Jota had married his longtime partner and mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso, in a beautiful ceremony in Porto. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the global football community, with tributes pouring in from across the world.
Among those deeply moved was Portuguese tennis player Francisco Cabral, who heard the heartbreaking news on the way to his Wimbledon doubles match. Partnered with Austrian Lucas Miedler, Cabral went on to defeat Scotland’s Jamie Murray and American Rajeev Ram.
“I have seen the very sad news,” Cabral said after the match. “Diogo was a big name—not just in Portugal, but around the world. He was a great human being, with a beautiful family and three kids. My best wishes go out to them all. For his family, it’s going to be very tough to recover from this.”
Though he was unable to obtain a black armband in time for Thursday’s match, Cabral confirmed he would be wearing one in his next fixture against Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl.
“I couldn’t get one in time today, but I will make sure I have one for the next match,” he assured.
In a tournament steeped in tradition, Wimbledon’s decision to break with nearly a century and a half of rules underscores just how deeply Jota’s loss is being felt—not only in football, but across the wider world of sport.