Emma Raducanu sparked Wimbledon anger and was forced to change her clothes
British No. 1 Emma Raducanu will no longer be competing at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships after an injury forced her to withdraw. However, it does mean she'll avoid further controversy at SW19 after failing to stick to the dress code in the past.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) enforces a strict all-white dress policy at Wimbledon year-round. This applies to both competitive matches and training sessions, however, which is where Raducanu is alleged to have fallen short. In March 2025 the 23-year-old rocked up at the Wimbledon headquarters for a practice session. However, she reportedly purportedly angered certain members of the All England Club after sporting a pink outfit.
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The Daily Mail reported at the time how certain attendees were frustrated by the alleged display of “arrogance.” And one witness described their annoyance at the 2021 US Open-winner seemingly flouting one of the longest-standing rules in tennis.
“It's so unfair,” one member was quoted as saying. “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.”
The message apparently landed with Raducanu, who was seen practicing at Wimbledon later in the year sporting the traditional all-white attire. Wimbledon’s dress code rules were adopted during the 1880s as a means to best disguise sweat, which was considered unsightly at the time.
The tradition has been maintained, although certain alterations have been made to the rules over the decades. Organisers will now accept a single line of trim on outfits, which can be no wider than a single centimetre, while women are allowed to wear dark undershorts due to period concerns.
As frustrated as some members may have been with Raducanu, her display can’t compare with Nick Kyrgios’ apparent protest when he wore red Air Jordans and a red cap onto Centre Court ahead of a match in 2022. The stunt cost the Australian around £8,200 in fines.
As recently as 2024, Novak Djokovic had to get special clearance to wear a grey knee brace following an injury. And 20-time major champion Roger Federer also fell afoul of the all-white policy in 2013 when he was forced to change a pair of Nike trainers that had orange soles.
Raducanu was set to face Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One at Wimbledon on Monday, but a stress fracture forced her to pull out on Sunday night. It's the latest in a long line of injury blows that have taken their toll in recent years.