Emma Raducanu has reportedly sparked outrage by breaking a 150-year-old rule at Wimbledon's All England Club.
The 2021 US Open champion has been accused of "arrogance" by members of the club for allegedly ignoring the long-standing dress code. Players are required to wear all-white when using the courts at SW19 for matches and practice sessions, while the rules of course also extend to the main Grand Slam event in the summer.
However, Raducanu is said to have taken to the courts to practice while wearing "whatever she wants", with the Daily Mail reporting that her behaviour has been "enraging members" of the club.
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The All England Club rules - which were first introduced in the 1880s - states that players must wear "suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white" while on the courts, although this also applies “from the point at which the player enters the court surround”.
While an amendment was made to the rules in 2023 to allow female players to wear dark undershorts under their kit due to period concerns, the regulations remain strict. Permitted white outfits do "not include off-white or cream", while only a 10mm trim of another single colour is allowed around necklines or the cuffs of sleeves.
Raducanu, however, is said to have "rocked up in a pink outfit," with one member telling the Mail: "It's so unfair. Who does she think she is? Just because she's won the US Open doesn't mean she can wear whatever she wants.”
However, the 22-year-old is not the first star to cause a stir when it comes to following the dress code. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios ruffled a few feathers by arriving on court in a pair of red Nike Jordan shoes and matching cap before changing into his white attire, while the legendary Roger Federer also got told off for wearing orange-soled shoes on the hallowed courts.
