Wimbledon Wardrobe Controversy and an Underdog Win in Opening Round

A revealing dress gets no love on court, and an underdog faces Federer.

ByABC News
June 29, 2016, 7:15 AM

— -- The oldest tennis tournament in the world is known for its strict dress code, but one dress at Wimbledon had some players in search of a wardrobe change.

The NikeCourt Premier Slam dress was approved by Wimbledon, which requires all players to wear white. But a few of the sponsored athletes sporting the dress have found it too revealing.

The bottom of the soft, flowing dress can fly up in a most unladylike way during play, leaving little to the imagination.

Some upset fans took to Twitter to air their grievances, giving the outfit the nickname "Nike nightie." One even called the outfit a "giant fail."

Players are using unique ways to make the dress work.

Britain's Katie Boulter belted her dress with a white Nike headband in an attempt to hold the fabric in place.

PHOTO: Katie Boulter at Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament on June 22, 2016.
Katie Boulter at Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament on June 22, 2016.

Czech player Lucie Hradecka fashioned the dress as a top worn with leggings.

PHOTO: Lucie Hradecka, professional tennis player from Czech Republic, during first-round of play at Wimbledon on June 28, 2016.
Lucie Hradecka, professional tennis player from Czech Republic, during first-round of play at Wimbledon on June 28, 2016.

One player standing by the dress is Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, a 2014 Wimbledon singles finalist. "For me, I love it. It's nice and short, so you can move around and be free with your movements," she said.

Meanwhile, attracting attention for his play and his remarkable story is British-born left-hander Marcus Willis.

He defied his No. 772 world ranking to upset Ricardas Berankis, the No. 54 player from Lithuania, in the opening round.

PHOTO: Marcus Willis celebrates upset victory during the Men's Singles first round match against Ricardas Berankis at Wimbledon on June 27, 2016 in London.
Marcus Willis celebrates upset victory during the Men's Singles first round match against Ricardas Berankis at Wimbledon on June 27, 2016 in London.

Willis, 25, was ready to give up on his tennis dream, but he scrambled into the prequalifying event, where he was the last man in the draw after a player dropped out. He won three matches to make it to the main qualifying event, then won three more to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

His fairy-tale story plays out this afternoon as he takes on the world No. 3, Roger Federer, who is eager to play Willis.

Federer told reporters, "I think it's a great, great story, and I'm very excited to be playing him, actually."

Coverage of the second round will be on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. ET.