Serena Williams will no longer be allowed to wear her skin-tight black catsuit at the French Open.
The French Tennis Federation president, Bernard Giudicelli, says the tournament that Williams has won three times is introducing a dress code to regulate players’ uniforms because ‘I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far’.
In an interview in Tennis Magazine’s 500th edition, Giudicelli singled out the figure-hugging black suit that Williams wore this year at Roland Garros and said made her feel like a superhero.
Banned: Serena Williams will no longer be allowed to wear her skin-tight black catsuit at the French Open. She is pictured wearing it in May this year during the tournament
Purpose: The catsuit enabled Williams to avoid developing blood clots, which was a recurrent problem for her after she gave birth to her daughter in September 2017
‘It will no longer be accepted,’ Giudicelli said. ‘One must respect the game and the place.’
He said Roland Garros’ new rules won’t be as strict as Wimbledon’s, which require that players wear white, but will ‘impose certain limits’.
Many player uniforms for 2019 have already been designed but Giudicelli said the FFT will be asking manufacturers for an advance look at them.
In May, Serena had made it clear that the black bodysuit she wore at the French Open was much more than a fashion statement to her.
There was a practical reason for the full-length legs on the skintight outfit: The aim was to protect her because of past bouts with blood clots.
Protection: The black catsuit helped preserve Williams’ health as she returned to Grand Slam action about nine months after giving birth to her daughter Olympia
Back: The outfit called to mind Williams’ black ‘catsuit’ that she wore at the 2002 U.S. Open
With the outfit, she also wanted to send about self-worth and feeling powerful as she returned to Grand Slam action about nine months after giving birth to her daughter Olympia Ohanian, now 11 months old.
‘It feels like this suit represents all the women that have been through a lot mentally, physically, with their body to come back and have confidence and to believe in themselves,’ she said at the time. ‘I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids.’
The outfit called to mind Williams’ black ‘catsuit’ that she wore at the 2002 U.S. Open. It also was reminiscent of the white bodysuit that American player Anne White wore at Wimbledon in 1985.
Williams referred to what she wore at the French Open as the ‘catsuit — the new version, 2.0.’
‘I call it, like, my Wakanda-inspired catsuit,’ referring to the fictional nation in the film Black Panther.
‘We designed it way before the movie,’ she said, ‘but still, it kind of reminds me of that.’
Not having it: The decision to ban Williams’ catsuit sparked fury among Twitter users
Speaking out: Some also struggled to understand what motivated the decision, and pointed out that Williams’ outfit covers her entire body
Outrage: Twitter users took to the platform to blast the ‘terrible’ and ‘racist’ decision
‘Please explain’: Some Twitter users expressed their dismay after hearing about the decision
Williams said she feels ‘like a warrior princess, kind of,’ when she wears the outfit.
‘I’m always living in a fantasy world,’ she added. ‘I always wanted to be a superhero, and it’s kind of my way of being a superhero.’
The champion gave birth on September 1 2017, then dealt with complications related to a pulmonary embolism — and the catsuit was also meant to help with her cirdculation.
‘I had a lot of problems with my blood clots, and, God, I don’t know how many I have had in the past 12 months. So it is definitely a little functionality to it,’ Williams said.
‘I have been wearing pants in general a lot when I play, so I can keep the blood circulation going. It’s a fun suit, but it’s also functional, so I can be able to play without any problems.’
Williams is about to return to the US Open next week. She will do so in a new power outfit designed by Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with Nike.
Design: Williams is about to return to the US Open next week. She will do so in a new power outfit designed by Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director Virgil Abloh
Outfits: Abloh created several designs for Serena, including a one-shoulder dress with a tulle skirt and a jacket for her to wear on the court
The designs created by Abloh for Williams include a one-shoulder black dress with a tulle skirt, custom NikeCourt Flare sneakers, and a jacket for her to wear off the court.
Giudicelli’s decision to ban Williams’ catsuit at the French Open sparked fury among Twitter users, who took to the platform to blast the ‘terrible’ and ‘racist’ move.
Some also struggled to understand what motivated the decision, and pointed out that Williams’ outfit covers her entire body.
‘Serena Williams, who wore an outfit specifically designed to help prevent blood clots because she almost *died* after giving birth, won’t be able to wear her catsuit again at the French Open because the tournament chief… doesn’t like it,’ one Twitter user wrote. ‘That’s literally the only reason.’
‘Please explain how this catsuit is disrespectful?’ another person asked. ‘Sit down dude.’