Players Pinching Towels at Wimbledon

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Wimbledon officials are bracing for increased towel theft after nearly two-thirds of the towels distributed in the first four days last year were not returned, totaling around £20,000 in losses. To address this recurring issue, organizers plan to raise awareness and consider new measures to reduce the unreturned items during this year's tournament.

Wimbledon officials are preparing for a possible surge in towel theft during this year’s tournament, following reports of significant losses at last year’s event. According to Christy, the official supplier of the championship’s branded towels, only 828 of the 2,799 towels distributed over the first four days of the previous tournament were returned. The unreturned towels amounted to a value of approximately £20,000.

Instances of players taking towels have been documented in past tournaments. Among them, Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek was recorded placing three branded towels into her bag during on-court play. Meanwhile, retired tennis great Roger Federer openly acknowledged possessing a large collection of Wimbledon towels at his home.

Wimbledon traditionally provides towels to players for on-court use, with the expectation that they will be returned after matches. However, the high volume of unreturned towels has drawn attention to the phenomenon, prompting tournament organisers to heighten awareness and possibly implement measures to reduce the losses.

Towel theft by players highlights an unusual aspect of the Wimbledon experience, reflecting the appeal and collectability of the event’s branded merchandise. As the tournament maintains its status as one of tennis’s most prestigious competitions, controlling such losses remains a minor but notable operational challenge.

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