Serena Williams dominated the court in a chic look after her French Open catsuit caused controversy Serena Williams Wears Tulle Dress by Off-White for First U.S. Open Win After Catsuit Controversy Serena Williams Competes At The 2018 US Open In New York Credit: Splash News Online Serena Williams responded to the controversy she faced for wearing a black catsuit at the French Open in the best way possible: by taking home her first victory of the 2018 U.S. Open, and wearing a stylish look by designer Virgil Abloh in the process. Williams, 36, dominated the court in her match against Magda Linette from Poland, advancing to the second round of the tournament. And she wowed not only with her unbelievable skills, but also with her chic one shoulder dress, a pleated tulle skirt, fishnet stockings and custom sparkly Off-White sneakers that featured her name on the outer sole, all designed by the Louis Vuitton creative director and Off-White chief executive in partnership with Nike. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Abloh shared videos sitting courtside at the match on Monday night, and posted a photo of tennis champion’s look. “willing to design dresses for her for life,” the fashion designer wrote. (Abloh’s Instagram also shows that Williams’ bag has the text “AKA QUEEN” written on it.) Serena Williams Competes At The 2018 US Open In New York Credit: Splash News Online Looking for more style content? Click here to subscribe to the PeopleStyle Newsletter for amazing shopping discounts, can’t-live-without beauty products and more. In May, Williams stepped out in a skin-tight black Nike catsuit to make her return to the game following a 14-month hiatus after the birth of her daughter at the French Open that she said made her feel like a “queen from Wakanda.” But the French Tennis Federation didn’t approve. RELATED PHOTOS: The 15 Best New Beauty Products for Fall According to the Associated Press, the French Tennis Federation will be introducing a new dress code for future tournaments. “I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far,” French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli explained to the Associated Press in reference to Williams’ catsuit. Tennis French Open, Paris, France - 29 May 2018 “It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place,” Giudicelli added. However, Williams’ spandex catsuit not only made her “feel like a warrior,” but also nearly saved her life. 060218_tennis_rolandgarros_6242aa.jpg Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images Following the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia in Sept. 2017, Williams suffered a number of health setbacks. “I’ve had a lot of problems with my blood clots, God I don’t know how many I’ve had in the past 12 months,” Williams explained at a news conference in May, according to NPR. She said, “I’ve been wearing pants in general a lot when I play so I can keep the blood circulation going.”<doc-sep>“When I first tried on the dress, I felt very strong and feminine at the same time. It has all the really strong elements, from the leather to that really cool stretchy material,” Williams told Vogue. “I felt so feminine in the tutu, which is probably my favorite part of it. It really embodies what I always say: that you can be strong and beautiful at the same time.”<doc-sep>Serena Williams beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-0 in first round of US Open. (Source: AP) Serena Williams beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-0 in first round of US Open. (Source: AP) Serena Williams choice of clothing made headlines after an official French Open said she shouldn’t wear a black catsuit – which she wore for medical reasons – to the tournament again. Knowing that the world would be watching what she wore at the ongoing US Open, the 23-time Grand Slam champion played her first match of the tournament wearing a tutu. For her first match of the US Open, Williams wore a one-shoulder black athletic tennis dress, with a ballerina-esque tutu skirt and embellished silver sneakers. When she walked on court she wore a leather jacket with a utility strap, and carried a bag which had “AKA QUEEN” written on it. To give her body the same compression the catsuit did, Williams wore black fishnet tights to prevent blood clots. Williams said Saturday she no longer needs to wear the catsuit because she found that compression tights also work to keep her blood circulating. ALSO READ | Twitter thread supports Serena Williams’ catsuit, features unique outfits worn by black sportswomen The stunning dress was created by Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh in collaboration with Nike, is called the “Queen” and is said to be inspired by Williams. Earlier this month French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli told Tennis Magazine that Williams’ body-hugging outfit will no longer be acceptable and one must “respect the game”. The remarked irked people from around the globe, who called the ban misogynistic and racist. After Williams won the match, people cheered what one of them said was a ‘mic-drop’ moment. Catsuit or tutu @serenawilliams is still going to show the world what a fabulous athlete she is! Go get it girl! Always an #Inspiration — Eram Jetha (@EramJetha) August 29, 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 lol @serenawilliams wearing a tutu and fishnets in response to all of this “respect the game” hullabaloo is A+ pic.twitter.com/KigtWQ7Cl9 — Kayla Fitz (@Kayla_Fitz) August 28, 2018 Catsuit or tutu @serenawilliams is still going to show the world what a fabulous athlete she is! Go get it girl! Always an #Inspiration — Eram Jetha (@EramJetha) August 29, 2018 I cannot get enough of @serenawilliams tutu and fishnets. Way to throw every female athletic stereotype right out the window girl It’s the perfect eye roll at the French Open folks pic.twitter.com/BzxJf7ztUs — Melissa Phillips (@MelissPhillips) August 28, 2018 The French banned her catsuit. So she rocked up at the US Open slaying with a single shoulder tutu number, plus fishnet stockings to boot. Of course! She got super powers. Talk about THE comeback. #SerenaWilliams pic.twitter.com/cLWIXRfiXM — Spike Ganetsang (@GodfreyGanetsan) August 29, 2018 Sitting here thinking that #SerenaWilliams level of #unbothered is what I strive for in life. And this was just a touch #petty too. No #catsuit, huh? OK. Day 1, tutu and fishnets. Day 2, wouldn’t surprise me if she wore an evening gown, diamonds and redbottoms. #USOpen — Mrs. OD1 (@OfficeDiva1) August 28, 2018 I never knew the appropriate time for a Yass Queen until @serenawilliams dominated in a tutu after being told she couldn’t wear her compression catsuit. — Brean Caldwell Vaske (@CoachBCVesq) August 29, 2018 No catsuit you say….!? Let me see what else I’ve got here. Tutu and fishnets. Sorted! I think the kids would say “Slay” ⁦@serenawilliams⁩ 🙌🏽 https://t.co/yXBrEomE5Z — Alex Hyndman Hill (@lexhyndman) August 29, 2018 No Catsuit? Okay. She’ll wear a Louis Vitton tutu and fishnets… because @serenawilliams is your Qweeeeeen! https://t.co/qGhZzsqUPY — Aman Chaudhary – Art (@AmanCreates) August 29, 2018 Only a GOAT can show up in a tutu, fishnet compression stocking and win like the badass she is!! Hope this shuts ‘em up #SerenaWilliams #playlikeagirl #playlikeachampion https://t.co/uHPAYeqPQ7 — GirlFromTexas (@rkowalcyk) August 28, 2018 Nike, her sponsor, also released a video in tribute to Williams as Giudicelli thought wearing the bodysuit was going way “too far”.<doc-sep>Serena Williams of the United States in action against Magda Linette of Poland in the first round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on August 27, 2018 in New York City, United States. Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes of all time. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has won four Olympic gold medals and has earned more than $86 million in prize money over the course of her career. She's also endured years of criticism from tennis insiders who've critiqued her hair, her body and her clothing choices. Most recently, French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli told Tennis Magazine that the full-body catsuit Williams wore at the 2018 French Open (meant to help prevent blood clots following the birth of her first child) would not be allowed next year, because "one must respect the game and the place." Serena Williams of the United States at the 2018 French Open Tennis Tournament Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images Williams responded gracefully, saying that Giudicelli was "a great guy" and that her team would work with the French Tennis Federation to find a solution. She also appeared at the U.S. Open this week with an entirely new look — a one-shoulder black dress with a ballerina-style tutu skirt, as well as a leather jacket and silver sneakers. "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers," tweeted Nike.<doc-sep>
Serena Williams made it clear she isn’t letting anything cramp her on-court style. For the stylish 23-time Grand Slam champion’s first match of the 2018 U.S. Open, Williams sported a one-shoulder black athletic tennis dress with a ballerina-esque tutu skirt. The outfit was created by Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh in collaboration with Williams for Nike’s “Queen” collection, which she accessorized with a pair of shimmery silver sneakers, a leather jacket with a utility strap, and a matching tennis bag that was appropriately labeled “AKA QUEEN” with Abloh’s signature quotation marks. Williams, who emerged from her first round of the US Open victorious, made headlines for her on-court fashion just days earlier after French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli told Tennis Magazine that the catsuit that Williams wore to the tournament this year will “no longer be accepted…one must respect the game and the place.” Williams was quick to address this in a video shared by ESPN, saying “obviously the grand slams have a right to do what they want to do, but I feel like if and when or if they know that some things are for health reasons then there’s no way that they wouldn’t be okay with it.” After noting that she wears tight designs to prevent the blood clots she’s been experiencing after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian last year; she said they would “come to an understanding.” Tennis greats like Billie Jean King and Chris Evers supported Williams. Williams’ US Open tutu garnered top scores from tennis and fashion enthusiasts alike, many of whom took to the Internet to share their feelings about the matter. Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com.