Emma Raducanu, the British No. 2 and reigning US Open champion, is reportedly ruffling feathers at Wimbledon’s All England Club, drawing the ire of members for her alleged disregard of the venue’s long-established all-white dress code.
The All England Club, the revered host of the Grand Slam tournament, upholds a strict dress code requiring players to don almost entirely white attire during both matches and practice sessions. Raducanu, however, has been accused of taking liberties with this regulation, inciting outrage among some club members as she reportedly steps onto the sacred grass courts in whatever ensemble she chooses.
The Daily Mail reports that Raducanu’s conduct is infuriating members, with some voicing their dissatisfaction about the tennis star’s apparent dismissal of the all-white rule. A member reportedly lamented, “It’s so unfair. Emma rocks up in a pink outfit while everyone else respects the all-white rule. Who does she think she is? Just because she’s won the US Open, it doesn’t give her the right to wear whatever she desires.”
The dress code at Wimbledon is clear: players must take to the courts in “suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white,” from their entrance to the court surround. The rules further specify that white does not include off-white or cream, and a single-colored trim of no more than 10mm is permitted around the neckline or sleeve cuff.
The All England Club’s all-white dress code has been a point of contention over the years. In 2020, tennis titan Novak Djokovic had to secure permission to don a grey knee brace during his post-surgery recovery. Australian player Nick Kyrgios also raised eyebrows in 2022 when he arrived on the court in red Nike Jordan shoes and a matching cap, only to change into his white gear later.
Even eight-time champion Roger Federer was not immune to this rule. In 2013, the Swiss maestro received a reprimand for sporting orange-soled shoes and was instructed to replace them for his subsequent matches.
The all-white dress code tradition at the All England Club dates back to the 1880s. An amendment was made in 2023, permitting female players to wear dark undershorts beneath their white outfits. This change was prompted by players expressing “considerable concern,” according to All England Club CEO Sally Bolton.
This followed an admission by WTA star Daria Saville revealing that she had to “skip” her period due to the stringent dress code. She said, “I myself had to skip my period around Wimbledon for the reason that I didn’t want to worry about bleeding through. We already have enough stress.”
It remains to be seen how the alleged dress code defiance by Raducanu will play out and what, if any, consequences she will face.
