Wimbledon dress code issue forced female stars to go back to locker room and change bras

Wimbledon’s strict dress code once forced female tennis stars to return to the locker room to change their bras. The stringent rules have long divided opinion and came to a head at the iconic Grand Slam, where they were enforced in extreme fashion.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club's (AELTC) rigid rules have long demanded all-white attire - extending to undergarments. They were finally relaxed last year to allow dark-coloured clothing underneath after players complained about anxiety surrounding menstruation.

But things were vastly different a decade ago, as female players were put into all kinds of difficult positions. Women’s tennis star Sabine Lisicki recalled some of the past controversy while appearing as a pundit on Amazon Prime’s coverage of this year’s Wimbledon.

The German, who is currently on maternity leave, said: "There was a year when a lot of players were sent back because their bras weren't completely white. Because they stuck out a little. Even though they were skin-coloured." She claimed Serena Williams was one of the players affected.

Lisicki did not specify which year she was referring to, but she featured at the 2014 edition where there was a similar controversy. Female stars were astonishingly instructed to compete without bras a decade ago, with British star Naomi Broady being a victim of the baffling rules.

Broady played her second-round match against Caroline Wozniacki without a bra, losing in straight sets. The rules stated at the time: "Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm)”.

Pat Cash was furious with the events as they unfolded, labelling the decision by the All England Club as "absolutely ridiculous". Speaking ten years ago, the 1987 men’s Wimbledon champion told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Some of the girls have been told to go back and change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them.

“I believe some of the girls didn’t have suitable sports bras and had to go without them. It has absolutely gone ridiculous.”

A year later, Venus Williams threatened to fight back against the draconian rules by wearing an animal print beneath her white kit. She eventually backed down and admitted that the white makes for a “nice change” compared to the rest of the calendar.

But the American legend changed her mind again in 2017 when she sported a pink bra during a win over Elise Mertens in the first round. The vibrant bra straps, which were clearly visible, landed her in hot water.

After a short rain delay, Venus appeared from the locker room in a different bra and top. When asked about the incident, a frustrated Williams commented: “Yeah, so I don’t want to talk about undergarments. It’s kind of awkward for me. I’ll leave that to you. You can talk about it with your friends. I’m going to pass.”

Male players have also been affected by the regulations down the years, with Roger Federer being told to ditch his orange-soled Nike shoes in 2013. Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, has been granted permission to wear a gray strap on his knee this year following his surgery, saying: “We’re trying to find a white one, trust me. I like to go all white and respect the rules.”