Emma Raducanu forced to change clothes after causing anger at Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu forced to change clothes after causing anger at Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu defeated Mimi Xu in the opening round of the women's singles, but not before she sparked anger at the All England Club earlier this year

Emma Raducanu has fallen foul of one of Wimbledon's oldest rules (Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images )

Emma Raducanu is off to a flying start at Wimbledon this year, as she defeated Mimi Xu in straight sets in the first round - but not before causing some bother on the court earlier in 2025.

The 22-year-old enters the major tournament as Britain's top seed, hoping to make it past the fourth round of the competition for the first time. She is already into the second round after winning her first match-up 6-3, 6-3, and is next set to face Markéta Vondroušová on Wednesday.

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Raducanu's return to SW19 follows a controversy earlier this year when she was accused of flouting a 150-year-old rule at the All England Club. In March of this year, some club members labelled her "arrogant" for allegedly disregarding the long-established dress code at Wimbledon, reports Wales Online.

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The regulations stipulate that players must don all-white attire during matches and practice sessions, a rule that also applies to the main Grand Slam event in the summer.

However, the 2021 US Open champion was reportedly seen on the club's courts wearing "whatever she want[ed]," having allegedly "rocked up in a pink outfit" for a practice session.

At the time, the Daily Mail reported that her actions had "enraged members" of the prestigious club. One person told the publication: "It's so unfair.

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"Who does she think she is? Just because she's won the US Open doesn't mean she can wear whatever she wants."

Raducanu is into the second round of Wimbledon (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images )

The All England Club rules, first introduced in the 1880s, dictate that players must don "suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white" from the moment they step into the court surround.

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In 2023, these regulations were amended to allow female players to wear dark undershorts under their kit due to period concerns, but the rules remain strict in all other areas.

For instance, acceptable white outfits do "not include off-white or cream", and only a single colour trim of 10mm is permitted around necklines or sleeve cuffs.

The 2021 US Open champion angered club members with her attire (Image: Hannah Peters/Getty Images )

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Ahead of this year's tournament, Raducanu appears to have heeded these rules, as she played her first-round match in an almost entirely white outfit. A flash of colour could be spotted on the chest of her Nike muscle vest, sporting the logo of the popular brand.

Raducanu's visor also had a different colour, with a black Nike tick stitched into the front of the accessory. However, the young tennis star is far from the first person to cause a stir with her Wimbledon attire, as several of the game's biggest names have fallen foul of the dress code.

In 2022, Nick Kyrgios caused a bit of a commotion by turning up on court in red Nike Jordan shoes and a matching cap before changing into his white gear - and even the legendary Roger Federer was reprimanded for sporting orange-soled shoes on the court at one point.

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