Influencer Alix Earle defended after sparking backlash for breaking unspoken Wimbledon rule

A number of famous faces from the world of tennis and beyond have been spotted in the stands at Wimbledon so far, as we reach day 10 of the annual tournament.

From Molly-Mae Hague to David Beckham and Sir Andy Murray, celebrities have been flocking to southwest London to see the action unfold.

And it’s not just Brits that are arriving at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, as American A-listers have also been making the trip across the pond for Wimbledon.

Among them is influencer and model Alix Earle, who also hosts the Hot Mess podcast.

Alix, 25, attended day nine of the tournament on Tuesday (7 July) with fellow influencers Anastasia Karanikolaou and Molly-Mae.

However, her outfit of choice appears to have ruffled a few feathers online.

The podcast host shared a ‘get ready with me’ style TikTok showing off her look, which consisted of an ivory three-piece set - a corset-style lacy top paired with a matching asymmetrical skirt and jacket, and finished off with some white lace heels.

But some followers seemed to think her outfit didn’t quite match the vibe of Wimbledon, claiming that she’s a ‘tad overdressed’.

One social media user penned: “This is not for Wimbledon Alix,” while a second agreed: “You look great, but this outfit is just not Wimbledon. Wimbledon is simple and classy.”

A third brutally chimed in with: “Your stylist did you dirty. Not Wimbledon at all.”

And a fourth quipped: “Obviously obsessed with you and the outfit is stunning but tad overdressed for Wimbledon.”

While others added: “You look like you are going for tea not tennis” and “It’s not Bridgerton, it’s Wimbledon.”

And someone else added: “I mean you’re always 10/10 but the outfit isn’t giving Wimbledon to me at all. It’s more like high tea!”

But, others leapt in to defend the influencer, with one fan rightly pointing out: “Lots of opinions in these comments from people who’ve never been to Wimbledon.”

A second agreed: “All these comments acting like they've been to Wimbledon lol what am I missing bc based off other videos of Wimbledon this doesn't feel like missing the mark lol.”

A third gushed: “As someone who has been to Wimbledon every year for 20 years you nailed it. You look awesome.”

And a fourth wrote: “All these people NOT at Wimbledon saying your outfit isn’t Wimbledon how would they know? Don’t listen to them, you look amazing!”

Tyla has contacted a representative for Alix for comment.

Wimbledon’s strangest rules

Wimbledon has strict rules and regulations for pretty much everything - from the length of the grass to the temperature of the tennis balls, and you can be fined thousands of pounds for certain conduct violations.

Curfew

While at other grand slams, play continues late into the night, at Wimbledon there’s a strict 11pm curfew.

This means tennis fans sometimes have to go to bed on a cliffhanger.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s 2018 semi-final clash was suspended after the third set. Meanwhile, Andy Murray was particularly peeved when he was in the lead against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2023, but went on to lose when the game was paused overnight and restarted the following morning.

Timed toilet breaks

Players are limited to one toilet break for matches up to three sets, and two if it goes on for longer.

They can only go during a set change and they have to be back within three minutes, or they risk giving a point to their opponent.

The longest ever Wimbledon match lasted a whopping 11 hours over three days, so players better get their nervous wees in before the match.

Temper tantrums

Players can be fined up to £36,900 for smashing their rackets. Djokovic is believed to have smashed over 60 of them over the course of his career.

Bad language can also result in the same maximum fine.

Countdown to serve

As soon as the ball goes out of play, the serving player has just 25 seconds to hit their serve, or the umpire can call a violation which could potentially grant a point to their opponent.

Fines for not trying hard enough

Players must demonstrate they’re giving their all to win the match. Australian player Bernard Tomic was fined an eye-watering £45,000 after he was accused of not putting in enough effort to beat French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, losing after just 58 minutes.

Age limits

Players have to be at least 14 to compete, which means youth sensations like Coco Gauff were initially barred from taking part.

Spectators, meanwhile, have to be accompanied by a guardian if they’re under 16. Under-fives aren’t permitted at all onto show courts.

This meant Serena Williams' two-year-old daughter Adira River couldn't watch her mum's comeback at this year's grand slam, while not all of Andy Murray's four children could watch his final doubles appearance in 2024.

The grass and the balls

Everything at Wimbledon is just so. The grass is cut to 8mm, which is apparently best suited for modern tennis play and for the grass to survive.

Meanwhile, the tennis balls are kept in a fridge in order to maintain a constant temperature of 20°C. A consistent temperature is important because it apparently affects the way the balls bounce. The more you know.

Tennis whites

It was originally just female players who were required to wear all-white on the court. According to Tennis Fashions: Over 125 Years of Costume Change, the rule was introduced because it was ‘quite unthinkable that a lady should be seen to perspire’. OK then…

Eventually, the rule was imposed on men too.

A single trim of colour is allowed around the neckline and sleeve cuffs, but this must be no thicker than 1cm.

In 2022, an exception was made so women could wear dark undershorts to feel more comfortable if they were on their periods.