The most prestigious tournament in professional tennis got off to a controversial start after Nike-sponsored female players competing at Wimbledon complained that dresses designed by the sportswear giant are too short, fly above the waistline and hamper their play.

Nike recalled the dresses, which have been likened to nighties, for alterations just days before the tournament was set to begin.

In an email to the players, Nike said: "We need to a make small change to your dresses per Wimbledon rules. Could you please bring them by the Nike Wimbledon House. This is VERY important."

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard is one of the more than 20 female tennis stars sponsored by Nike at Wimbledon. She's also among the athletes expected to have the dress lengthened.

Speaking to reporters before competition got underway, Bouchard said she was happy with the design.

"I tried on the dress months ago, so for me, I love it. It is nice and short so you can move around and be free with your movements," she said. "I think it's funny that people paid a lot of attention to it, but I think it's really nice."

Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic appeared to sport an altered version of the controversial dress during her women's singles match against American Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Monday.

The dress didn't appear to be longer than the original version, but the open sides were sewn up.

But some Wimbledon athletes have improvised with the design while on the courts.

British tennis player Katie Boulter, 19, wore a belt made from a hairband to keep her dress in place during a qualifying match last week.

Meanwhile, Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic opted to wear knee-length leggings underneath the dress.

German tennis star and Nike-sponsored athlete Sabine Lisicki addressed the dress controversy following her win against American Shelby Rogers on Monday.

Lisicki opted for a classic tennis shirt and tank top for the game, instead of the Nike mini dress.

"Why did I choose it?  Because I felt comfortable in it," she said. "For me, the most important thing is to feel comfortable and not to think about anything, and with this I feel great." 

Wimbledon enforces a strict dress code on the courts.

Competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that "is almost entirely white," and notes that white does not include "off-white or cream."

A single trim of colour around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeve is acceptable, but it must be no wider than one centimetre. 

The dress code also states that "common standards of decency are required at all times."

The NikeCourt Premier Slam tennis dress retails for US$100.

On its website, Nike said each item in the 'London Collection' is "agile, flexible and built to increase speed."