Serena Williams Breaks The Silence Around Her Controversial 'Catsuit'

Tennis sensation Serena Williams has been known for her impeccable fashion game. Her most recent look that made heads turn (for all the wrong reasons) was a black catsuit at the 2018 French Open. Freshly getting back on the court after childbirth, the 42-year-old Grand Slam champion secured an impactful victory over Czech player Kristýna Plíšková. However, it was the outfit that drew the most media attention-- a black, skintight bodysuit with a red waistband. "I feel like a warrior in it, a warrior princess ... from Wakanda, maybe. I've always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero," Williams told the press post the match.

However, much to her surprise, the outfit caused a controversy around sports dress codes and was deemed "disrespectful" to the French Open. The outfit was even banned from the tournament next year. French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli said, "It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place.”

Why Was It So Controversial?

The catsuit incident caused a huge debate in the sports community regarding the policing of women. In a recent interview with CNN, Serena Williams spoke up about the slew of animosity she received from officials because of her outfit. "I didn’t know it would have such an impact," she told sports journalist Amanda Davies. 

Williams said that she did not pay heed to Giudicelli's comment. She expressed, “Oh my God, now I’m getting sad memories because I miss it, (the catsuit). Oh no, now I’m like: ‘I want to go home and put it on, and of course, I want to play and slide around on some clay. Oh, such good memories.”

New Moms In Sport

Serena Williams spoke about the rules and dress code for women in sports which often undermines their comfort. Speaking about her experience with childbirth complications, she wished that the organisers better understood the practicality of the catsuit. “I wanted to make sure that my blood was always circulating and I had been in a near-death experience." 

Williams added, "I think at that moment, I really needed to be understood. I’d just had a kid. I think my baby was just a few months old at that time – why I was even playing, I don’t know – and obviously, I had so many issues with my blood clots." She then thanked Nike, her uniform manufacturer, for understanding her preferences.

"They understood what I was needing at that time, and it was great. So just hearing my voice and listening to my voice and then hearing the conversation around everything that happened after that, after the catsuit, it was really incredible – and shocking, too,” Williams expressed. "I’m more kind about body image, I’m more forgiving,” she added.

Williams also spoke about how she wants to change the narrative for her daughter. "I always tell my daughter 'Say something nice. Is there something nice you can think of about this girl?’ I think it just starts at such a young age of just encouraging positive views and positive feedback and positive words that are coming out of your mouth.”