The US Open started yesterday and I’m having so much fun! I bought the ESPN+ app so I can watch all the matches and it’s amazing. Of course, that also means that I’m watching like three matches at the same time, which is what happened last night as Serena Williams played on Arthur Ashe Stadium while Juan Martin del Potro played on Louis Armstrong. It’s a good problem to have, how to watch all of the exciting tennis all at once. In any case, Delpo and Serena both won their matches. Both were serving up bagels in their matches too, which was awesome. (“Bagel” means their opponents didn’t win any games in a set. Serena won her second set 6-0.)
For Serena, it was her first time back at the US Open since 2016, when she lost in the semifinals. It’s her first time back since giving birth to Olympia, who turns one year old in a few days. And Serena decided to dress like a warrior princess for the event – this Nike kit was designed by Virgil Abloh and honestly… I didn’t hate it. I worried that the tulle skirt would not be functional, but it actually looked cute and cool on the court. I still don’t get the one long sleeve though. Serena was so hot that she needed her team to bring her more sweatbands.
Before her match, Serena released two new commercials with her sponsors. The Nike ad is incredible. The Beats ad is… well, I don’t need to see Nicki Minaj in my Serena ad, but that’s just me.
If you don’t dare to try and chase your dreams, you'll rob yourself the joy of doing it. Don't just dream it. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/tjpZzVdP8I
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 27, 2018
This one is for queens everywhere: It takes both grace and strength to own all that you are and never settle with having to choose so let's own it, declare it, and let the world watch us conquer. 👑 pic.twitter.com/jcEBU6YdsE
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 27, 2018
Look at her leather jacket! That’s what she wore as she walked onto the court. The jacket is amazing and it should be worn off the court too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Getty.
Those pictures are awesome. Her muscles!!
I like the outfit (I assume its “kit” in tennis speak? all I know about tennis is from this site, haha) but the one shoulder thing does look a little uncomfortable. But I assume she tested it out before the competition so it must be okay for her.
“Kit” seems to be used in sports in general in reference to outfits. When my husband was on a cycling team he would get a new set of jerseys, shorts, etc and when he called it a kit I was confused at first.
I love the dress, too, she looks amazing. I like the jacket too but feel like it’s a bit gimmicky, a bit too far afield from an actual warmup jacket and maybe not so functional.
The term that confused me at first was “bagels.” My first thought was that winners get bagels as a prize, lol. Mmm, bagels.
I KNOW. She’s definitely a work of art that needs to be appreciated in motion.
She looks strong and precious at the same time. The skirt is adorable
She looks FIERCE. I’m confused, though, because I thought she needed to wear a compression suit? Or is it not needed always
I honestly think the compression thing was a little exxagerrated. I think she mentioned the compression as a feature of the catsuit once and it snowballed into a medical neccessity and got mixed into the outrage about the new French Open ban.
She didn’t wear one in Wimbledon either, so I think she doesn’t need it but maybe just likes it.
She wore flesh colored compression tights at Wimbledon.
In the top photo it looks like she is wearing fish-net stockings, which I think would be compression.
I’m not totes sold on that one arm either…wouldn’t it get really hot?!
She’s wearing compression tights (fishnets) in these photos. Every time she’s played after the French, she’s worn compression tights.
Agreed with everyone about the compression tights under the dress. But I imagine the furtt, I also think it would be natural if, over time, she didn’t need to wear the compression suit as often because after a certain amount of time on blood thinners, your risk does go back down. (I’ve had a couple of blood clots though I’m not a world class athlete so don’t take my word on what is or isn’t medically necessary).
But it’s that last bit that I think is problematic with the French Open (and I’m sure Wimbledon will pull a similar stunt given their already harsh dress code) isn’t that Serena necessarily needs to be wearing compression at all times. I don’t know if she does. But it’s the fact that the officials would ignore her valid medical need for compression with some (fairly flimsy) justification about dress codes and not letting fashion “get out of hand”.
Honestly, I find tennis’ insistence on continuing to enforce such strict wardrobe rules on their female players (and let’s be real, it’s just the women, the men get to wear basically whatever they want). Unless something is performance enhancing in some way or really, truly inappropriate to the point that it’s NSFW (or NSFsmallchildren), I think they should just let women wear whatever they want to wear to compete. Even if what they want to wear is *GASP* SHORTS. (Clutching my pearls as we speak).
Never understood why they couldn’t wear shorts. I would never make it on the tennis circuit as I would refuse to wear skirts (obviously I would lose out because of it).
It depends on what disease she has causing the blood clots, honestly. Some of them are chronic conditions that won’t be helped even with routine blood thinner use. They require constant monitoring. My one friend is consistently on and off Lovenox because of her condition.
The timing of the catsuit issue is what infuriates me to no end.
The statement about the dress code had to be issued right before the US Open?
Right at the same time when Serena needs to be focused on her game? Sure. Hard to believe the timing on this one.
How’s long is it until the next French open?
Agreed. I do really like this outfit though.
@anony83 @Swack
Lots of females players wear shorts rather than skirts or dresses when playing matches. Victoria Azarenka won her first grand slam title (annihilating Sharapova to smithereens in the process lol) in a pair of white shorts. Garbine Muguruza’s current US Open outfit includes grey shorts. So they have been worn on the ‘big stage’ before.
I watched the NIKE ad one million times.
That ad is great! I know little about tennis, but she is a joy to watch.
The NIKE ad gave me chills. They are not playing around with her endorsement.
And they created a ad just as a response to that idiot from the French Open statement about her catsuit.
Nike can do it because they can afford it. Good.
Thanks for the tip about the ESPN app. We cut the cord on cable so I’ve been struggling to find where I can watch.
the best thing for me about watching on the app (with appletv)? no chris evert commentary 🎾
Serena’s body, I just envy.
*chef’s kiss*
No go with the one shoulder.
The one shoulder-like the cold shoulder situation-seems dated.
Thinkould look better if it had 2 short sleeves.
But what about the medically NECESSARY pant suit?! 🙄
Please stop. She’s wearing compression tights. But I suppose the little men in charge will be fine with these because they can see a woman’s skin.
Why would she play tennis in compression tights if it was not necessary for her?
Your argument has no logic.
Or are you simply saying that your problem is it being called a “medical necessity” because it gives you free range to malign Serena?
Your original comment screams of it 🙄
I think the compression garments are a medical necessity,but as a someone with a nursing degree; and someone with a history of blood clots and some venous insufficiency myself;I would argue that her physicians may be alright with her out of compression for a certain period of time if they are giving her a tough time for wearing them to begin with.I think she has compression fish nets on in the above photo.I think her body is as beautiful as any sculpture I’ve ever seen,and I cannot fathom why any man has any right to tell her what or what not to wear if doctors orders have been given.
G.O.A.T!!!!!!
Love the Nike ad.
LOVE HER – she really is a great role model of women and girls everywhere. God bless Queen Serena and her catsuit.
Looks hot as hell! Can’t imagine wearing long sleeves and black while playing tennis
I agree, but it looks beautiful.
Serena could wear a sack and i would still be a fan. She is such a great person and so classy.
Gah. She had a baby how long ago? Her legs are insane. #goalsinanotherlife
I love it.
Can’t stand those little skirts. I hate tennis uniforms, especially for the women. Her catsuit totally dragged me in! I was sold! And they made her change like she’s wearing flaming shoulder pads or something. I think the disgusting, sexist, frou-frou skirt crap has gotta go as far as being a “uniform.” If people wanna wear that, fine, but unless their clothes are preventing others from playing the game, the committees need to sit their racist, sexist asses back down in their seats and stfu. Cannot stand organized sport, but I could look at her muscles all day. Damn, she is some woman! I’m just a flabby little thing who can’t even put my luggage in the overhead bin, and she’s walking around like the damn fine goddess she is, waving those muscles around like she owns the place (’cause she does lol). Get it, girl. She is the absolute master of giving no f***s. Oh, you wanna fine me? You wanna make me change? You wanna accuse me of cheating? Do what you gotta do. I’ll just keep winning, lmao!