Serena Williams made her return to tennis last year after giving birth while sporting a controversial "banned" Nike catsuit at the French Open. This past weekend, she reentered the competition in another striking outfit—possibly a subtle response to those who criticized her previous attire.
The tennis icon donned a Nike x Off-White ensemble designed by Virgil Abloh on the courts in Paris. The black and white two-piece outfit featured phrases like "Mother," "Goddess," "Queen," and "Champion" in both French and English, making a powerful statement.
Serena debuted this look during her first-round match against Russian tennis player Vitalia Diatchenko, which she won. This marks the second time Abloh has crafted a performance outfit for her; she previously wore an Off-White x Nike tutu dress at the U.S. Open last year.
The statement-making attire comes a year after Serena faced criticism for wearing a full-length bodysuit dedicated "to all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy." The compression garment was designed to help prevent blood clots—an issue Serena experienced in the past that nearly cost her life during childbirth.
Despite the potentially life-saving functionality of the outfit, the French Open imposed a stricter dress code shortly after Serena wore it. Bernard Giudicelli, president of the French Tennis Federation, told Tennis Magazine that Serena's catsuit was a particular problem. "It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place," he said. "I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far."
At the time, Serena seemed unfazed by the French Open's decision to implement a new dress code, and her latest ensemble serves as a reminder that she's still the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)—regardless of what her outfit critics have to say.