Daria Saville's telling reveal amid Wimbledon dress code controversy
Wimbledon's strict all white dress code has sparked plenty of controversy this year, but Australian star Daria Saville has pointed out a glaring impracticality for female players.
World No.98 Saville was bundled out of Wimbledon in the first round, but has opened up about how she had to prepare for the famous tournament - including by skipping her period.
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Saville isn't the only women's player to have raised concerns about how the strict dress code negatively affects them, with British star Heather Watson and former star Monica Puig also stressing how the code forced them into difficult decisions.
The rules require 'shorts, skirts and tracksuit bottoms to be completely white', a rule which over the years has caused understandable concern for female players.
In an interview for The Daily Aus, Saville said she actually liked the all white look and respected the Wimbledon tradition, but added it would be good for players to not have that stress weighing on them during the biggest tournament of the year.
"Recently just being at Wimbledon, I was talking to my friends saying I love the all white look," Saville said.
"But then a few girls said they hate it because it sucks to wear all white while on your period.
"It's true, I myself had to skip my period around Wimbledon for the reason that I didn't want to worry about bleeding through, as we already have enough other stress."
Wimbledon's dress code became a topic of conversation this week thanks to Nick Kyrgios' frosty exchange with a journalist following his fourth round victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
After completing the match, Kyrgios donned a pair of red sneakers and a red cap - prompting the journalist to question if he had broken the rules, only to be slapped down by an irritated Kyrgios.
Daria Saville opens up on Wimbledon's dress code problem
Saville isn't the only player to have taken the step of skipping their period, with Watson also opening upabout her approach to Wimbledon.
Prior to Wimbledon, she told the BBC, "I'll probably go on the pill just to skip my period for Wimbledon."
"That's the thought process and conversations girls have about it."
In the comments of the Daily Aus' Instagram post, Saville further expanded on her thoughts.
She detailed an time at the Australian Open when she had gotten her period mid-match, and was thankful a female chair umpire was in control of the match.
"One time I got a period mid-match. I went to the bathroom and then was like oh surprise," she wrote.
"We are only allowed two toilet breaks during a match. Thank god I had a female umpire.
"I explained to her what is happening and then I waited for someone to bring me a tampon because I didn’t have any.
"This happened during my first ever Australian Open in the second round. It was also 38 degrees on that day. That’s why I said it sucks to be a girl sometimes."
Monica Puig also sought to bring some light to the issue during the French Open, after the effects of menstration during competition became a talking point.
"Definitely something that affects female athletes!" she wrote on Twitter.
Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks.
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