Over the years the diversity of Wimbledon press conferences has been legend. Many years ago one of John McEnroe’s even descended into a downright brawl between the opposing newspaper corps of the United States and Great Britain. But none have started quite with the bold upfront inquiry that began Tatiana Golovin’s debrief after her initial win of the Championships.

The demure young French player had barely settled into her seat to discuss her hard-fought victory over Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh when she was confronted with the opening enquiry: “Can I ask you about your knickers?”

Looking rather shocked, Mademoiselle Golovin, French by nationality but Russian born and now domiciled in Miami, responded that the scarlet coloured undergarments were in fact chosen to compliment her dress. The response came that her dress was in fact white but with another reply that was as crisp as any volley seen in what hours of play were allowed, she countered: “There's like a little red outline, and they say red is the color that proves that you're strong and you're confident, so I'm happy with my red knickers.”

Now, she might be, but are the All England Club who over the years have strictly adhered to their predominantly white clothing code? Many have tried to strike a blow for the fashion revolution; most have been told to change or, at best, directed back to the privacy of the locker rooms to slip into something a little more conventional and permissible.

Of course there have been those who slipped briefly through those lawful loopholes. There was Ann White who in 1985 wore a show stopping all-in-one white lycra cat suit for one match until she was firmly informed that it would not be allowed for the rest of the Championships. Delving further back in the past there were gorgeous Gussy Moran’s barely concealed frills and nobody ordered her to change.

Wimbledon is a place where tradition predominates and the majority of the contestants applaud that insistence. But tennis is now a sport that is struggling to attract the youth of many countries and a stayed and stuffy attitude does not help. Not too long ago the Lawn Tennis Association even suggested one way of attracting youngsters was to encourage them to play in cargo pants and hoodies. Perhaps that is going a little too far.

Many believe it would also be wrong to suggest that things should descend to the dress codes of the US Open where Serena Williams once appeared in a skin tight black lycra leather outfit that would have been more at home in a Seventh Avenue nightclub but perhaps it is time to cut a little slack and Tatiana Golovin’s knickers shouldn’t cause quite such a stir.

Now quite probably the reason that the whole affair came to such prominence was a marked lack of anything much happening at Wimbledon yesterday as the inclement June weather once again took a hold. But it was all done in good nature, unlike that infamous punch-up that broke out at the height of McEnroe’s Superbrat period.

In fact the inquisitor that initially took her so by surprise finally admitted thinking that the garment in question was undeniably stylish and revealed: “ I'd quite like a pair myself.”