The tennis pro showed up in a black outfit that sported French words. Along with the top and skirt, she also had a cape that had the words “Mother, Champion, Queen, Goddess” printed on it in French.
The custom Nike outfit was made by Virgil Abloh. In a post-match interview, after winning against Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko, Williams says: “It’s the second time [Abloh and I] worked together. It has words in it in French. It talks about me being a mom and me being a queen, as all women are. A champion. It’s a positive reinforcement for me, and I kind of love that.”
Williams’ outfit is notable due to the controversy that the bodysuit she wore to the event last year.
She explained that purpose of the outfit was that it helped with blood clots she’d previously been diagnosed with, but officials still banned her from ever being allowed to wear it at the French Open in the future.
“It’s a bit late because the collections are already designed, but we are going to nonetheless ask the manufacturers to let us know what is coming,” French Open president Bernard Giudicelli says in a statement, as reported by Independent.
“I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena’s outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place.”
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