Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes in the world. Unfortunately, she's now at the center of a controversy over something unbelievably trivial: her tennis tournament wardrobe.
Serena previously wore a skintight black "catsuit" to the French Open, a competition that she has won three times in the past. But officials have now banned Serena from wearing the bodysuit during future French Opens. French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli explained why they were instituting the ban in an interview for Tennis Magazine's 500th edition.
"It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place," he said, according to the Associated Press.
To be clear, Serena's bodysuit isn't just a fashion statement — it was specifically designed for the champion athlete and serves an essential medical purpose. Scroll through below to learn more about the suit's purpose, what it means to Serena, and how people reacted to the French Open's ban.
Serena wore the all-black compression bodysuit, also known as a "catsuit," to the French Open.
According to the Guardian, the catsuit helps prevent blood clots, which have been an ongoing issue for Serena. In fact, she dealt with complications relating to a pulmonary embolism last year.
The 36-year-old nearly died while giving birth to her first child, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in September.
“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,” Serena told the Guardian about the catsuit.
"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."
Not only does the catsuit help, y'know, keep her alive, but it also makes her feel like a superhero, she says. Serena told the Guardian that the catsuit makes her feel "like a warrior princess, kind of."
"I’m always living in a fantasy world," she explained. "I always wanted to be a superhero and it’s kind of my way of being a superhero."
Serena's appearance at the French Open was her first major tournament in 16 months.
So naturally, she wanted to be protected from potential medical issues. And as some fans have pointed out, this isn't the first time an athlete has worn a catsuit to play tennis.
According to the Guardian, American player Anne White wore a white bodysuit while competing at Wimbledon in 1985.
But nonetheless, officials have banned Serena's outfit. They're going to impose a stricter dress code going forward, and Serena's catsuit won't be allowed.
According to NBC Sports, Serena isn't too stressed out about the catsuit ban. She said she's spoken with the French Tennis Federation president and confirmed she no longer needs to wear the suit for health reasons because she's found that compression tights also help with her blood circulation. In what many believe to be a sly comment on the ban, Serena competed in the US Open wearing compression tights and a tutu shortly after the French Open catsuit ban was announced.
Even though the catsuit ban might not hold Serena back — because she's arguably the greatest athlete of all time — people are understandably upset about it.
Celebrities and fans alike are speaking out against the ban, which many think is sexist.
Writer Roxane Gay thinks that the French officials are making a big mistake and questioned why Serena would even bother returning to a tournament that has disrespected her like this.
And one Twitter user pointed out just how irrational this whole issue is.
Another commenter pointed out that the ban comes across as really sexist and racist.
Beyond health concerns, Serena has said that the suit is an important symbol for her.
"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," Serena told the Guardian after winning her first round in the French Open while wearing the catsuit. "I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids."
Frankly, a lot of people are supportive of any outfit that Serena wears. It's her talent, not her uniform, that has captured the attention of so many fans over the many years of her successful career.
Because she's Serena. Enough said.
