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Jul 09, 2023

Elena Rybakina photos show underwear history at Wimbledon

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. With the arrival of the Princess of Wales and Roger Federer at Centre Court on Tuesday it would have been easy to miss a small detail with

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

With the arrival of the Princess of Wales and Roger Federer at Centre Court on Tuesday it would have been easy to miss a small detail with historic ramifications.

As play got underway between Elena Rybakina and American Shelby Rogers it became obvious that both women were taking advantage of Wimbledon’s new relaxed dress code by wearing dark undershorts.

This is the first year the All England Club, which runs Wimbledon, has allowed women to wear darker undershorts to banish period fears.

The tournament has previously had an extremely strict all-white dress code which was enforced with an iron fist.

Even Roger Federer was pulled up for wearing white shoes with orange soles in 2013.

The rule was first imposed in the 1800s to minimize sweat stains but women have objected to it in recent years because of the threat of period stains during long matches.

“I think it’s good to have an option, but at the same time I was also fine with all white,” Rybakina, who is the defending champion, said.

“I think changes are good, and we still have the same tradition to be in full white. It’s just maybe a little adjustment. Overall I think it’s good yeah.”

Rybakina won the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 tot advance tot the second round.

British player Heather Watson said the new rule was “forward thinking” but did present a new problem.

“When they announced the new rule, I thought this is great,” Watson said. “This is forward thinking, this is so helpful.

“And then I thought, shoot, everyone’s going to know when I’m on my period – but I’m so open about it anyway, I’d probably let all of you know without even asking the question! I guess consistency is key then, so you’ve got to stick with the black all the time or something. But broadly obviously [it’s] positive, absolutely. You didn’t ask, but in Eastbourne I wore black shorts, so it really helped.”