Wimbledon star doesn't hold back as she comments on tournament's strict dress code
Elina Svitolina spoke about the dress code at the All England Club as she progressed to the second round of Wimbledon after a straight-sets victory over Anna Bondar
Elina Svitolina spoke about the Wimbledon dress code
(Image: Hannah Peters, Getty Images )
Wimbledon star Elina Svitolina has expressed her strong admiration for the championship's iconic all-white dress policy.
The Ukrainian ace sailed into the second round following a commanding straight sets triumph (6-3, 6-1) over Hungary's Anna Bondar on Monday. Having made it to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2019 and 2023, the 30-year-old is intent on advancing even further at the prestigious Grand Slam.
A clear fan of the historic tennis competition, Svitolina donned a T-shirt featuring a nod to the classic strawberries and cream after her first round win at the All England Club. While former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has previously criticised the strict dress code, which Emma Raducanu was claimed to have broken earlier this year, Svitolina has voiced her fondness for the traditional aesthetic.
When quizzed by The Tennis Channel about her favourite Wimbledon tradition, Svitolina didn't hesitate. "The dress code, I love dressing up in white," she declared.
"You know, being so classy. It's iconic. I love my outfit this year and it just looks so perfect, so beautiful. When you look around, everyone is so classy. Yeah, I just really love this tradition."
Wimbledon has long-standing all-white clothing rules, dating back to the 1880s when visible sweat stains were deemed unseemly. All competitors are required to wear almost entirely white attire, which has already led to outfit changes at this year's tournament.
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Svitolina is a fan of the all-white dress code
(Image:)
An exception is granted for female players who can wear dark undershorts as long as they are not longer than their shorts or skirt. According to Wimbledon's official guidelines, the all-white dress code does not permit off-white or cream clothing.
A coloured trim around the neckline or sleeves is acceptable, provided it is no wider than one centimetre. Shoes must also be white, including laces and soles, and the same regulations apply to caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks.
In 2022, the All England Club announced that female players could wear darker undershorts. However, Bouchard, a Wimbledon finalist in 2014, shared her experiences of the stress faced by female players on their period before the rule was implemented.
"Unfortunately we cannot plan our own tennis matches, that is something completely out of our control, Bouchard told the Not Alone podcast with Valeria Lipovetsky in 2024. "The tournament decides the schedule and when you play, so there's no chance for that at all. I've definitely experienced really bad period cramps, pain, and I remember having that the day before the US Open in New York.
Bouchard spoke about the problems with the previous Wimbledon dress code
(Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images )
"And I was like, 'Thank god this is just a practice day today, because if I had to play my match today it would be really hard.' I did play right away the next day so it wasn't the best but it's just something we have to deal with. We cannot control the schedule so it's just luck.
"And I know some of the girls on tour also get a little worried when it comes to Wimbledon because you have to wear white. So it just makes you a little more self-conscious if you're... you know.
'It's tough, but now they've changed the rules where you can wear like a different-coloured undergarment – so your ball shorts under the dress can be a different colour. But that's a super-recent rule."
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In contrast, Svitolina embraced the current dress code during her opening victory, donning white Adidas attire with a green trim on her neckline and cap, as she triumphed over Bodnar. She is set to face Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the next round.
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