Emma Raducanu begins her 2026 Wimbledon preparations at Queen's this week as she aims to revive her career after a difficult few years. The 23-year-old will be targeting a first fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon, with the Queen's tournament serving as crucial preparation.
Controversy Over Dress Code Breach
Raducanu's return to SW19 follows controversy last year, when she was accused of breaching a 150-year-old regulation at the All England Club. In March 2025, she faced accusations of "arrogance" from club members for allegedly disregarding the longstanding dress code at Wimbledon.
The All-White Rule
The regulations stipulate that players must wear all-white while using the courts for matches and practice sessions, a rule that also applies to the main Grand Slam tournament in summer. However, the 2021 US Open champion was reported to have used the club's courts wearing "whatever she wanted," having purportedly turned up in a pink outfit for a practice session.
At the time, the Daily Mail reported that her conduct had been "enraging members" of the prestigious club. "It's so unfair," one angry member told the publication. "Who does she think she is? Just because she's won the US Open doesn't mean she can wear whatever she wants."
Strict Regulations
The All England Club's regulations, first introduced in the 1880s, require players to wear "suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white" while on the courts, a rule that applies "from the point at which the player enters the court surround." A revision in 2023 allowed female players to wear dark undershorts beneath their kit for period concerns, but the rules remain stringent. Acceptable white outfits do "not include off-white or cream," and only a 10mm trim of another single colour is permitted around necklines or cuffs.
Raducanu is not the first star to cause a stir with clothing choices at Wimbledon. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios raised eyebrows by stepping on court in red Nike Jordan shoes and a matching cap before changing into white attire. Even Roger Federer was reprimanded for wearing orange-soled shoes on the hallowed courts.
