Serena Williams Practices for the Australian Open in Her Traditional Tutu

Tennis, Tennis racket, Racket, Racquet sport, Tennis player, Tennis Equipment, Blue, Tennis racket accessory, Strings, Sports, — (Image credit: Scott Barbour)

The Australian Open begins this week, and Serena Williams is getting back into the game after skipping the tournament last year, according to NBC Sports. Per The Standard, Williams is a hot favorite to repeat her 2017 tournament win, while then eight weeks pregnant, and claim a 24th Grand Slam. Now, we've gotten a behind-the-scenes look at Williams' practice session, and of course the tennis star looks amazing while doing it.

NIKE NIKE Flare Jordan Serena Williams

Williams, who is ranked 16th, wore a black tutu and bright pink sneakers, which might be custom but bear a striking resemblance to the pink Nike Serena Williams collection sneakers. Williams often wears a tutu, but lately she's been favoring a full-body catsuit that she says helps with blood clots—something Williams has struggled with.

In late 2018, Williams literally helped change the rules for female tennis players. The Women's Tennis Association will now allow female players to preserve a special ranking after they become mothers, and will allow leggings or compression shorts without something on top, to boot. So it's actually a bit surprising to see Williams in a tutu, although there's plenty of time for her to break that catsuit out. Plus, she should wear whatever makes her feel comfortable, so rock that tutu, Serena.

Latest Videos FromMarie Claire

Watch full video here:

While, she was there, Williams also looked on at other practice sessions with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou:

Blue, Azure, Bag, Cobalt blue, Electric blue, Shoulder, Fun, Luggage and bags, Travel, Leisure,

Williams hasn't commented explicitly about how she's feeling pre-tournament, but she did take a moment to share a sweet personal moment with sister and fellow tennis superstar Venus Williams, captioning the photo: "Some things never change." Maybe it's a joint practice session?

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

For more celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

RELATED STORIES