Emma Raducanu is reportedly at the center of a controversy at Wimbledon for allegedly breaking a long-standing club rule.
The British tennis star, aged 22, frequently utilizes the All England Club`s facilities for training when she is in London.
However, it is claimed that Raducanu has upset some members by seemingly disregarding the traditional all-white dress code.
Wimbledon enforces a strict rule, upheld for 150 years, requiring players to wear only white attire when on court.
Sources indicate that the 2021 US Open champion has been seen wearing pink clothing during recent practice sessions at Wimbledon.
According to a club member, there`s a sense of unfairness as “Emma appears in pink while everyone else respects the all-white rule. Who does she think she is?”
Another member commented, “Winning the US Open doesn`t exempt her from following the dress code.”
Wimbledon`s guidelines specify that players must wear “suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white,” explicitly excluding off-white or cream shades.
The rules further state, “There should be no solid mass or panel of coloring. A single trim is acceptable, but must be no wider than one centimeter.”
Instances of dress code controversies at Wimbledon include Roger Federer`s orange-soled shoes in 2013, which he was asked to change. Novak Djokovic received special dispensation for a grey knee brace last year. Nick Kyrgios was fined for wearing a red hat and shoes after a match in 2022.
This dress code issue arises as Raducanu recently experienced an incident with a man exhibiting “fixated behaviour” at the Dubai Open, resulting in a restraining order and increased security at the Indian Wells tournament.
