Just because catsuits were banned from the French Open doesn’t mean Serena Williams is willing to forgo one-pieces altogether.
Last night, the 37-year-old tennis player returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time since her controversial U.S. Open final. While we could easily go on and on about the fact that it took Williams less than an hour to defeat Maria Sharapova (NBD), we’d first like to take a moment to appreciate her stylish outfit.
During the match, Williams wore a black short bodysuit, which is basically a modified version of a catsuit. The body-hugging ensemble was designed by Nike and immediately caught the attention of the fans, who didn’t know how to feel.
Some users took it very seriously, writing, “I think Serena’s JUST outfit woke me up! Completely WITHOUT coffee! Catsuit is back!” While others questioned its functionality: “Serena’s outfit is not appropriate tennis attire. She looks like she’s at a boxing match.” Agree to disagree.
The appearance comes just one year after the 2018 French Open, where Williams wore a headline-making catsuit that was later banned by tournament officials.
Despite last year’s drama at the U.S. Open, Williams didn’t appear fazed at yesterday’s match, winning the first two sets with a final score of six to one. Although it seemed like a cinch, Williams admitted that she was nervous about facing off against Sharapova.
“I just feel like her game really matches up well against mine,” Williams said, according to The New York Times. “I always said her ball somehow lands in my strike zone. I don’t know. It’s just perfect for me.”
Time to make way for the short bodysuit trend?
