PHOTOSSerena Williams' Black Tennis Catsuit Banned From French Open
Sep. 5 2018, Updated 7:52 p.m. ET
The French Open has announced that three-time winner Serena Williams will not be allowed to wear her bodycon “superhero” catsuit at next year’s tournament. Keep reading to find out why the greatest athlete of all time was specifically singled out.
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In an interview with Tennis magazine, the French Tennis Federation president, Bernard Giudicelli, explained that there will now be a dress code to regulate player’s outfits.
Bernard zeroed in on Serena's black jumpsuit and said, “It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place.”
His statement comes just months after Serena praised her sportswear and admitted that it made her feel powerful.
She said, “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. I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids.”
'I call it, like, my Wakanda-inspired catsuit,” she said before also admitting it made her feel like a “warrior princess.”
The mom of one also explained that the suit has a more practical purpose — to protect her against blood clots. “I had a lot of problems with them, 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,” she said.
Fans of the athlete quickly took to Twitter to defend Serena and to slam what they believe is a racist and sexist regulation. One person wrote, “I am not here for Roland-Garros’ racist pettiness regarding Serena Williams Black Panther-inspired catsuit. GTFOH!”
“How was the Catsuit disrespectful? The French Open should get real!” wrote someone else.
What do you think about Serena's wardrobe ban? Sound off in the comments!
