Golovin is getting her French knickers in a twist

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

They were trained on the red-trimmed knickers sported by France's Tatiana Golovin during her 5-7, 6-3, 8-6 win over Su-Wei Hsieh.

Scroll down to read more:

Red's in this season:

If Golovin felt her Chinese Taipei opponent had presented her with difficulties, it was nothing compared to the grilling the 19-year-old received afterwards as she fended questions about her choice of underwear and possible contravention of Wimbledon's strict 'mainly white' dress code.

"Such threatening questions right away. Are these questions allowed here like this?" she later enquired, getting her undergarments in a twist. "I think it's totally in the dress code. I'll keep wearing them as long as I keep winning.

"There's a little red outline to them. They say red is the colour that proves you are strong and confident, so I'm happy with my red knickers."

All white now: Anne White lived up to her name

Golovin has thus aligned herself with Gussie Moran, Karol Fageros and Anne White as the women who have shocked the All England Club.

In 1949, 'Gorgeous Gussie' asked the Wimbledon organisers if she could wear coloured clothing. Her request was turned down, so tennis fashion designer Ted Tinling created a dress incorporating lacetrimmed knickers which even triggered a debate in parliament.

Next came Fageros, who arrived at the All England Club in 1958 and wore gold lame underpants. She was immediately banned, only to be reinstated when she agreed to cover the offending article with white lace. The most controversial Wimbledon outfit was White's all-in-one lycra catsuit worn in her victory over Pam Shriver in 1985. Shriver complained that the outfit was distracting and White was asked not to wear it again.

Brief encounter: Gussie Moran caused quite a stir

There have been plenty of radical outfits paraded at the other Grand Slams. Anna Kournikova wore shorts at the 2000 U.S. Open — Helen Jacobs did the same at Wimbledon in 1933 — and Serena Williams turned up in New York in a figurehugging black catsuit?

And what about Golovin's French predecessor, Suzanne Lenglen? She was the first woman to play without a corset under her tennis dress. Shocking!