Tennis great Serena Williams made her triumphant return to competitive tennis today (May 29, 2018), winning her first match at the 2018 Grand Slam Paris, where she defeated Czech player Kristýna Plíšková.
Williams made a big style statement on the court, wearing a black Nike catsuit with a red belt, an outfit that created enough buzz to become a trending topic on Twitter. When asked after the match what the catsuit meant, Williams replied, “All the moms who had a tough pregnancy who had to come back and try to be fierce in the middle of everything. So that’s what this represents and it’s exciting and I think the catsuit is…you can’t beat a catsuit, right?”
Williams who is signed to Nike also wore a black Nike headband and what appears to be a custom version of a NikeCourt Flair 23 shoe, part of a collection designed in collaboration with Williams.
This isn’t Williams first time competing in a catsuit. She also made waves when she wore one at the New York Open in 2002 a period when she was signed with Puma.
Williams last competed at the Australian Open, a tournament she won while eight weeks pregnant with her first-born daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who was born in September 2017.
Serena is fresh off of launching a limited edition Nike Blazer, a shoe celebrating her return to tennis.
Serena comments on catsuit…
“You can’t beat a catsuit, right?” 😹@SerenaWilliams talks to @Jon_Wertheim after her 1st round win.#RG18 #Catsuit pic.twitter.com/ysbtUtONmO
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 29, 2018
Serena on court at Grand Slam Paris…
Williams at her Nike Blazer launch in Paris…
New shoe for Roland Garros Blazer Mid SW Went -to La Grande Arche in Paris with @nikecourt and surprised some really sweet young ladies. Thanks @paulinebriscoe And @lorraine301 pic.twitter.com/wNJ4UnN1Zq
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) May 23, 2018