God, we love this woman!
Serena Williams made a stellar return to the US Open on Monday, with a 6-4 6-0 first-round victory over Magda Linette.
While the 36-year-old’s domination on the court was nothing short of triumphant, it was the tongue-in-cheek statement she made with her outfit that’s got everyone talking.
The 23-times Grand Slam winner wore a tutu.
Why? Last week Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation, announced that catsuits would “no longer be accepted” on the court, after Williams wore one in the French Open earlier this year. And this ban was despite Williams explaining that her “Black Panther”-inspired catsuit had been helpful in preventing blood clots after she had a pulmonary embolism after giving birth to her daughter.
“One must respect the game and the place,” Giudicelli told The Associated Press.
Giudicelli’s comments were widely criticised, and former tennis star Billie Jean King came to Williams’ defense, saying the “policing of women’s bodies must end”.
But Williams did not appear fazed and instead let her outfit do the talking.
Serena at the French Open in the black Nike catsuit that French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli clearly didn’t approve of.
The tennis champion wore a custom-designed tutu by Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh and Nike. She also wore NikeCourt Flare trainers and fishnet compression tights.
Williams declared the tutu to be “easy to play in” and even “aerodynamic”.
Legend in a tutu, Serena Williams.
Williams suggested she’d found other ways to help prevent blood clots, and quipped: “When it comes to fashion, you don’t want to be a repeat offender.”
Post-match Williams revealed that she’d been feeling emotional after having to leave for her match without saying goodbye to her daughter.
“It’s just a good feeling to be back out here. The first set was tight, not the easiest. Once I got settled I started to doing what I tried to do in practice. I think I’m getting there. I’ve been training so hard. This momma was a little emotional today,” she said.
Didn’t she and her tutu do well, then.
