NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Roberta Vinci of Italy during their Women's Singles Semifinals match on Day Twelve of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Serena Williams was severely mocked and criticized after she chose to wear a black outfit with leggings — nicknamed a “catsuit” — to compete at the French Open earlier this year.
On Monday, the 36-year-old superstar decided to ditch that outfit for a black tutu for her first-round U.S. Open game. The garment was reportedly custom-designed by Nike and renown Luis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh, a friend of rapper Kanye West.
Williams also donned Nike sneakers and fishnet tights. The 23-time Grand Slam champion thanked Abloh after the designer captioned a photo of her on his Instagram page: “Willing to design dresses for her for life.”
SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams!
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
In a press conference after her 6-4, 6-0 first-round victory over 68th-ranked Polish player Magda Linette on Monday, Williams — who is seeking her sixth U.S. Open singles title — called her new outfit “aerodynamic” because it lets one of her arms be more “free,” and added it’s “easy to play in.”
Williams previously said that her catsuit was inspired by the hit Marvel superhero film Black Panther and that it helped her avoid blood clots following health complications she faced after her daughter was born. French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli recently announced that such outfits would now be banned from the French Open.
30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW
On Saturday, Williams did not seem remotely outraged over Giudicelli’s decision.
Williams will next face 23-year-old German Carina Witthöft in a second-round U.S. Open match on Wednesday night.
Here are some of the top fan reactions to Williams’ tutu:
Bob Horner, one of the most recognizable names in Atlanta Braves history, died at age…
Kiké Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered another injury setback this week when the…
Naomi Osaka had spectators on their feet after making a dramatic entrance for her French…
The Cleveland Cavaliers were swept in the Eastern Conference finals by the New York Knicks,…
Lionel Messi being substituted during an Inter Miami CF match due to muscle fatigue has…
Freddie Freeman may be entering the final years of his Hall of Fame baseball career,…