When Serena Williams hit the clay court at the French Open last year, she did so in style — but it was a style the French Tennis Federation didn't appreciate.
The black catsuit she wore, which the 23-time Grand Slam champ said made her feel like "a warrior" and "a superhero," was subsequently banned from the tournament altogether.
So when she stepped onto the court for her first singles round this year, fans weren't just watching her game — all eyes were on the 37-year-old's outfit, too.
And she didn't disappoint when it came to either spectacle.
Williams won her match against Russia's Vitalia Diatchenko on Monday, and she did so in another bold design fit for a warrior — and for a "queen," "champion," "goddess" and "mother."
And if anyone had any doubts about that, all they had to do was read her garment.
Those words were written in French on the jacket Williams sported during her warmup for the match, which, like the rest of the ensemble, was created by Off-White's Virgil Abloh for Nike.
Clearly, you can take away the catsuit, but you can't take away Williams' fierce fashion sense or winning attitude — even if you try.
It was three months after the tennis great first wore her formfitting catsuit that French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli declared it off-limits in future games.
"I think that sometimes we've gone too far," he said, referencing what she wore. "(It) will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the players."
But Williams said she hadn't been trying to disrespect anyone with her attire. Months before the tournament, she'd suffered from dangerous blood clots following her pregnancy with daughter Olympia, and the catsuit served as a compression garment to prevent further blood clots.
Fans and fellow players rallied in support of Williams, but she didn't sweat the controversy.
Never one to repeat a look anyway, she made her first post-ban appearance days later at last year's U.S. Open — in a tutu!
