When all white means all white. Aliaksandra Sasnovich went out in the second round, 6-2, 6-2, at the hands of two-time champion Petra Kvitova on Friday. No shame in that, even if the Belarusian was cursing her first serve (at 47%, not enough to put anywhere near consistent pressure on the No 9 seed). But the performance was notable for another detail, too, the fact Sasnovich was playing through the 29C heat wearing long white sleeves and leggings.
Sasnovich, 29, told the Diary her outfit was a necessary precaution against high levels of ultraviolet radiation. “My doctor told me I have to clothe my body,” she said. “I have light hair and a lot of moles on my body so it’s better for me.” The world No 69 said she can play bare-armed as long as the UV index is 3 or below, and in London on Friday it was 6.6. “It’s very dangerous to be out all day in the sun”, she said. “From a young age I’ve never liked it and even on tour I choose locations where it’s not too sunny because it’s too much.” With the Guardian reporting cases of skin cancer are set to rocket in the UK, perhaps Sasnovich won’t be the last to go long.
