**Elina Svitolina Praises Wimbledon’s All-White Dress Code Amid Ongoing Debate**
Wimbledon’s famously stringent dress code has again become the focus of attention, with Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina publicly voicing her enthusiasm for the tournament’s long-held all-white tradition. This comes after Svitolina swept into the second round with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 victory against Hungary’s Anna Bondar, continuing her bid for Grand Slam success at the All England Club.
The 30-year-old, twice a Wimbledon semi-finalist, made it clear she embraces the event’s unique sense of history and ceremony. Following her win, Svitolina was seen wearing a T-shirt adorned with a playful nod to the iconic strawberries and cream snack, adding a light-hearted touch to her otherwise focused campaign. When asked about Wimbledon traditions in an interview with The Tennis Channel, Svitolina did not hesitate to name the all-white dress code as her favourite aspect of the Championships.
“The dress code, I love dressing up in white,” she remarked. “It’s so classy, so iconic. My outfit this year is just perfect and beautiful. You look around and see everyone so elegant. I really love this tradition,” Svitolina said, highlighting her appreciation for the requirement that has been a fixture of the event since the 19th century.
Wimbledon’s all-white clothing rule dates back to the 1880s—originally intended to avoid visible sweat stains seen as unsightly by the standards of the time. Today, the regulations are strictly enforced: almost every item, from tennis dresses to socks and shoes, must be white. The only permitted exceptions are minor trims of colour, restricted to a narrow one-centimetre band, and, more recently, the allowance of dark undershorts for female players.
This latter change addresses concerns previously raised by competitors. Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard, once a Wimbledon finalist herself, described the pressures female athletes have faced regarding the dress code. On a podcast earlier this year, Bouchard reflected on the anxiety triggered by having to play in all white during one’s period—a situation she called “stressful” and “something we have to deal with.” The adjustment, allowing darker-hued undershorts, only came into effect in 2022, following growing calls for sensitivity to female players’ needs.
While some have pushed for further changes or even an overhaul of the policy, Svitolina’s positive stance reflects the widespread reverence many players and fans still hold for Wimbledon’s traditions. She took to the court in immaculate white Adidas gear with a subtle green trim, strictly within the tournament’s rules, as she secured her opening-round win.
Discussions about the dress code come against a backdrop of evolving social attitudes and the drive towards greater inclusivity in sport. Yet, Wimbledon has largely upheld its strict approach, framing the rules as a means of preserving the tournament’s identity and sense of decorum. According to the official guidelines, even off-white and cream attire are not considered acceptable—a testament to the event’s dedication to uniformity.
For Svitolina, tradition appears to offer a sense of belonging and pride. “When you look around, everyone is so classy,” she commented, reinforcing the view that the all-white code unites players in a shared experience of sporting elegance.
As the Championships progress, Svitolina will next face Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich in her quest to reach further than her previous semi-final appearances. With opinions divided amongst the players, debate over Wimbledon’s clothing rules is likely to continue, reflecting broader conversations about maintaining tradition versus adapting to modern sensibilities.
In the meantime, Svitolina’s unapologetic embrace of the dress code stands out. Her remarks serve as a reminder that, for some, these time-honoured standards are not just about regulations, but are an essential part of what makes Wimbledon unique in the sporting world.