Serena Williams was confused and displeased by the apparently new rule that eating was not allowed in the women’s locker room at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club during The Championships, Wimbledon.  At the same time, bananas and Kit Kat bars were left out in the locker room!  In one of her post-match press conferences, Serena was asked about the “no eating rule”:

Q. Wimbledon is so full of rules and all that kind of stuff. Maybe too many rules, a lot of people would say. The one thing I hear that's getting on your nerves this week is there's no eating allowed in the locker rooms. Why?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, you know, they said they voted on it. And I can understand. I just got confused as to why there are bananas and other stuff that you consume in the locker room, unless they found another way to consume it that I'm not aware of. I don't dare want to find out.

Q. What do you do with all the bananas and Kit Kats that you get?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't eat them. They say, Don't eat 'em in the locker room. So I'm just confused (laughter).

Q. Are you allowed to drink water in the locker room?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. They have water in there, so... I mean, I've been drinking in the locker room. Maybe I shouldn't.

Q. What happens if you feel naughty and have a Kit Kat anyway in the locker room?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, they're there, so I don't understand why they're there. You know, uhm, I don't eat in the locker room. They told me not to eat. I try to abide by the rules.  I'm just confused as to why do you supply something you consume if there's a sign that says, No consuming.

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One of the biggest challenges, or at least a constant preoccupation for tennis players prior to a match, is when to eat and what to eat.  Players practically never have a fixed start time for a match unless they are scheduled “first on”.   As a result, snacking becomes critical in order to maintain proper energy reserves and fluid hydration.  Each player has his or her favorite snack foods and preferences for the “pre-match” meal and “nibbles” while they wait.  Given the fact that players often spend hours in the locker room, resting, relaxing, stretching, etc. prior to a match, there are many times when players want to, and need to, eat inside the locker room.  Therefore, the new rule is somewhat surprising…