Serena Williams Hits Tennis Court In Tutu Amid Catsuit Ban And People Love It
Serena Williams rocked a tutu in the first round of the U.S. Open, in the midst of a controversy around outfits she’s worn on the court, and fans went wild.
The tennis champion wore a custom-designed tutu by Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh and Nike in her Monday match against Magda Linette. In addition to the tutu, she wore NikeCourt Flare trainers and fishnet compression tights.
A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Aug 27, 2018 at 7:52pm PDT
Williams said the tutu was actually “easy to play in” and even “aerodynamic.” Fans raved about the look:
Serena’s U.S. open outfit is everything pic.twitter.com/mDS21SSEkd
— Black Girl Culture (@blkgirlculture) August 28, 2018
Here’s @serenawilliams as she debuts this stunning ensemble from the “Queen Collection” tonight in her first match at the #USOpen? ?- her fashion collaboration with @Nike x @virgilabloh. #fashion#style#sports#tennis#Nike#VirgilAbloh#NewYork#SerenaWilliams? ? pic.twitter.com/ANNJEqgTW4
— Tenille Clarke (@tenilleclarke1) August 28, 2018
#AWESOME!@VirgilAbloh willing to design dresses for her for life. https://t.co/3ZNzjuKKQr@Nike@Nikecourt@OffWhthttps://t.co/UXBLQAeSuE@SerenaWilliams#USopen#GrandSlam#SerenaSlam
@WTA@USopen#2YearstoGo@Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/Z8jM90C1oR
— yoshitada okada (@okadascape) August 28, 2018
#SerenaWilliams walked into her first round match at the #USOpen tonight rocking a whole one sleeved bodysuit tutu and a leather jacket, all designed by #VirgilAbloh for #OffWhite. Chick slayed, easily winning this first match. Congrats! #BlackExcellenc… https://t.co/gSa9NLOI0Npic.twitter.com/iQlHPPTWBM
— YBF CHIC (@TheYBF) August 28, 2018
This outfit deserves to win. #USOpen2018#SerenaWilliams@virgilabloh@serenawilliamspic.twitter.com/I56UOIx2Cq
— Arianna Nardi (@AriannaNardi) August 28, 2018
I’m getting me a tennis tutu!!! #SerenaWilliamspic.twitter.com/BVQnEat2Vg
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) August 28, 2018
They didn’t let @serenawilliams wear her catsuit. She came out in a tutu. Yasss Queen. ?
— Xasha (@XashaSuree) August 28, 2018
French Open: The catsuit is inappropriate and does not meet our oppressive, paternalistic standards of femininity. @serenawilliams: Watch me dominate the court in a tutu. pic.twitter.com/yWaGtz7n5E
— Aisha Alexander (@AishaThinker) August 28, 2018
Only @serenawilliams can play tennis in fishnets and a tutu. #GOAT
— Denice M. Iglesias (@denicita) August 28, 2018
The tutu look comes on the heels of comments from Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation, that the French Open would ban catsuits after Williams wore one during the 2018 tournament. Williams had stated that the “Black Panther”-inspired suit was helpful in preventing blood clots after she had a pulmonary embolism after giving birth to her daughter.
Giudicelli said catsuits “will no longer be accepted,” according to The Associated Press.
“One must respect the game and the place,” he said.
While former tennis star Billie Jean King came to Williams’ defense and said the “policing of women’s bodies must end,” Williams herself had a much lighter response to the whole ordeal.
.@serenawilliams made light of the French Open banning her catsuit: pic.twitter.com/Ltyx7BUcWM
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2018
After indicating she’d found other methods to help with preventing blood clots, Williams quipped: “When it comes to fashion, you don’t want to be a repeat offender.”
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.