Tennis: Traditional colours out of fashion at Wimbledon

The grass will still be green and the strawberries red, but there will be changes to Wimbledon's colour scheme this summer.

Umpires, line judges, ballboys and ballgirls are to swap their traditional green, purple and beige outfits for navy blue and cream uniforms following a five-year deal with Polo Ralph Lauren, who will become the first official outfitters in Wimbledon's 129-year history.

The All England Club insists the arrangement is in keeping with its policy of not allowing sponsors to intrude on the traditional Wimbledon image.

The only branding allowed on its courts is that of certain suppliers, such as the manufacturers of the umpires' chairs, and drinks.

The future of another British tennis tradition, the Stella Artois tournament, looks to have been secured following conditional agreement by the Lawn Tennis Association to sell Queen's Club to its members for £45m.

The deal would keep racket sports at the west London site, the LTA's home since 1953.

- INDEPENDENT