The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club lived up to its fusty name on Tuesday, giving Eugenie Bouchard a dress code violation for revealing… a black bra strap. The dress code of the antiquated institution in SW19 requires players wear “almost entirely white” garb.
Bouchard was given the violation by umpire Louise Engzell during her opening round match against Duan Yingying. The 21-year-old Canadian, who was runner-up at last year’s event, went on to lose the match 7-6 6-4.
It’s not just female players that have been penalised by the club’s rigid dress code. In 2013, former Swiss champion Roger Federer was forced to swap his branded trainers due to a flash of orange sole on the court.
At the Australian Open earlier this year, Bouchard was asked by a male interviewer to “give us a twirl” after winning her second round match. That episode served up the usual Twitter storm in which the official was decried as sexist, critics noting the same wouldn't have been asked a male player. Others pointed out they were unlikely to feel sorry for a highly paid athlete just because she was asked to "twirl."
Bouchard said she was “not offended” by the request, adding: “I think it was just kind of funny.”
“I’m fine with being asked to twirl if they ask the guys to flex their muscles,” she added.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club has yet to reply to a request for comment on what century they're currently living in.