TOP FEMALE TENNIS stars said Friday it would be “creepy” if Wimbledon officials went round inspecting their knickers to check if they were flouting the competition’s strict all-white clothing rule.

Players said they understood the All England Club’s rules and traditions but would find it “weird” if they suddenly had to start running their underwear past an official.

They were reacting after former men’s champion Pat Cash claimed some women had been forced to change their bras because they did not conform to the strict dress code.

Caroline Wozniacki said it would be disturbing to have anyone doing an inspection.

“I don’t think anyone is showing off their underwear like that and getting it checked. That would be pretty creepy,” she said.

“Usually I don’t wear coloured underwear whenever you have white,” she added. “You can see through.

“Obviously, if the colour of the bra is really bright, the top is see-through, you can see it through.”

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, who faces Wozniacki in the fourth round after knocking out Chinese star Li Na, voiced her opposition to the notion of knicker checks.

“It’s weird to be checking our underwear, don’t you think? I think it’s very weird to check under my skirt if I’m wearing white underwear,” she said.

“If we are playing in white, we should wear white underwear. But it’s kind of weird officials coming and checking. I think it’s strange. But we should follow the rules.”

Wozniacki also said there was little excuse for flouting the regulations.

“Everyone was told before Wimbledon you have to wear white. I don’t think there should be any surprises. White is white. It should be pretty simple,” the Dane said.

- Sweaty underwear -

Romania’s Simona Halep said the dress code was part of what makes the tournament unique.

“It’s special to play here. They have the special rules because you have to be in white. It’s not really difficult to get white clothes,” the third seed said.

“I like this tradition. It’s really nice to see everybody in white.”

Earlier, 1987 Wimbledon champion Cash said the All England Club had “absolutely gone ridiculous” in imposing their dress code.

The Australian claimed some women had been sent back to “change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them”, he told BBC radio.

The 49-year-old said he believed some women had not had suitable sports bras with them, and had to go without.

He also claimed one male player was hauled into the referees’ office because his blue underwear “showed through when he got sweaty”.

The long-standing whites tradition at Wimbledon was formalised by entry conditions laid down in 1963.

“Any competitor who appears on court dressed in a manner deemed unsuitable by the committee will be liable to be defaulted,” the Wimbledon compendium says.

A Wimbledon spokeswoman confirmed all competitors had been given written notice of the Championships’ clothing rules, but did not confirm any breaches of the code.

Items of clothing — including shoes and their soles — must be totally white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre, the club letter says.

The rule also applies to “any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration)”.

White “does not include off-white or cream”, players are warned.

Anyone fearing an underwear inspection could resort to the following words also issued to players: “In addition, common standards of decency are required at all times.”

- © AFP, 2014

Tennis player smacked in the head by 120kph serve from doubles partner>

Cavaliers choose Canada’s Wiggins with first pick>