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Serena Williams & Virgil Abloh Send a Message with Tennis Star’s French Open Outfit
PARIS, FRANCE May 27. Serena Williams of the United States warming up before her match against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the Women”u2019s Singles first round match at the 2019 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 27th 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Last year, Serena Williams faced criticism from the French Tennis Federation for her outfit at the French Open.
The tennis star wore a black Nike catsuit for her match against Kristyna Pliskova, which apparently helped her fight off the blood clots she was experiencing at the time, as she had recently given birth to her daughter, Alexis.
However, President of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli singled her out in August while announcing a new dress code for the sporting event.
“It will no longer be accepted,” he said. “One must respect the game and place”.
One year on, the multiple Grand Slam champion returned to the French Open floor wearing a custom Nike outfit by Virgil Abloh. The fit is a black and white two-piece with a cape printed with French words for “Mother, Champion, Queen, Goddess.”
PARIS, FRANCE May 27. Serena Williams of the United States in action against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the Women”u2019s Singles first round match at the 2019 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 27th 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 27: Serena Williams of USA wears a special Nike jacket – with French text reading ‘Champion, Championne’, ‘Queen, Reine’, ‘Goddess, Deesse’ and ‘Mother, Mere’ – during the warm up prior to her first round victory on day 2 of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros stadium on May 27, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
In a post match interview, after winning against Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko, Williams said, “It’s the second time [Abloh and I] worked together. It has words in it in French. It talks about me being a mom and me being a queen, as all women are. A champion. It’s positive reinforcement for me, and I kind of love that.”
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 27: Serena Williams of USA wears a special Nike jacket – with French text reading ‘Champion, Championne’, ‘Queen, Reine’, ‘Goddess, Deesse’ and ‘Mother, Mere’ – during the warm up prior to her first round victory on day 2 of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros stadium on May 27, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
