British No. 1 Emma Raducanu enters the 2026 Wimbledon Championships in strong form following a series of impressive performances. Nevertheless, she will be keen to sidestep any further controversy at SW19 after previously falling afoul of the dress code regulations.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) maintains a stringent all-white dress code at Wimbledon throughout the year. This requirement extends to both competitive matches and practice sessions, and it's in the latter where Raducanu is said to have transgressed.
Pink Outfit Sparks Outrage
In March 2025, the 23-year-old arrived at the Wimbledon headquarters for a training session but allegedly upset certain members of the All England Club after wearing a pink ensemble. The Daily Mail reported at the time how some attendees were irritated by what they perceived as "arrogance."
One witness expressed their displeasure at the 2021 US Open champion for apparently disregarding one of tennis' most established conventions: "It's so unfair." The witness added: "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 doesn't mean she can wear whatever she wants."
Raducanu Complies with Dress Code
The message clearly resonated with Raducanu, who was spotted practising at Wimbledon later in the year dressed in the regulation all-white kit. Wimbledon's strict dress code regulations were introduced during the 1880s as a way to more effectively conceal sweat, which was considered unsightly at the time.
The tradition has been preserved, though certain modifications have been introduced over the decades. Officials will now permit a single line of trim on clothing, which must be no wider than one centimetre. Meanwhile, women are permitted to wear dark undershorts due to concerns regarding periods.
Comparison to Other Dress Code Violations
As irritated as some members may have been with Raducanu, her outfit choice pales in comparison to Nick Kyrgios' apparent act of defiance when he donned red Air Jordans and a red cap on Centre Court before a match in 2022. The episode landed the Australian fines of approximately £8,200.
As recently as 2024, Novak Djokovic required special approval to wear a grey knee brace as he recovered from an injury. And 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer also ran foul of the strict all-white dress code in 2013 when he had to swap out a pair of Nike trainers that featured orange soles.
Raducanu's Recent Form
Raducanu, who will be seeded No. 30 at SW19, is experiencing an impressive run of form after progressing to the finals of both the Transylvania Open and the Queen's Club Championships, though she was beaten on each occasion. Nevertheless, she will aim to learn from those setbacks and ensure her Wimbledon appearance goes as smoothly as possible by adhering to dress regulations this year.
