Serena Williams Had a Graceful Response to the French Open Banning Her Catsuit
"Everything's fine, guys."
Serena Williams' catsuit will be banned from future French Opens, but the tennis pro doesn't seem worried about it. Over the weekend, the superstar addressed the new rules at Williams' U.S. Open press conference, telling reporters, "I don’t know exactly what he [Bernard Giudicelli] seemed to say or what he didn't seem to say. We already talked. We have a great relationship and we talked yesterday. Everything’s fine, guys."
A reporter then asked how the catsuit ban would affect her health. (Williams wears pants to play tennis in order to keep her "blood circulation going" after experiencing blood clots post-pregnancy.) The athlete responded that she has "found other methods" to handle the issue, and even slid in a quick joke about the whole controversial debate. "When it comes to fashion, you don’t want to be a repeat offender," she said. The crowd chuckled.
Williams' decorous response comes a few days after Giudicelli, The French Tennis Federation president, called out her catsuit at the 2018 French Open, telling Tennis Magazine, "I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far...One must respect the game and the place."
After this comment, Billie Jean King, hailed as one of the top female players of all time, tweeted that "the policing of women’s bodies must end" and called for respect for Williams.
.@serenawilliams made light of the French Open banning her catsuit: pic.twitter.com/Ltyx7BUcWMAugust 25, 2018
Nike followed suit with its own tweet, stating, "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers."
The policing of women’s bodies must end. The “respect” that’s needed is for the exceptional talent @serenawilliams brings to the game. Criticizing what she wears to work is where the true disrespect lies. https://t.co/ioyP9VTCxMAugust 25, 2018
You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/dDB6D9nzaDAugust 25, 2018
Last night, Williams made her return to the U.S. Open by beating her opponent Magda Linette of Poland. She did it while wearing a Nike x Virgil Abloh ballet-inspired dress.
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's now the Senior Commerce Editor at House Beautiful, where she owns coverage on deals and sales across home decor and accessories, in-depth product reviews on furniture and appliances, as well as news around new product launches since 2023. With help from leading designers and tastemakers, Marina spotlights quality products while tracking current design trends, a skill she’s mastered over six years in fashion media. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, beginning her career in narrative-driven commerce coverage as an editorial assistant at PopSugar.
-
Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande Chanel-ify Their Red Carpet Uniforms
This duo looks ready for awards season.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Katie Holmes Tames an Underrated Animal Print Trend
Tiger is the new leopard.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Taylor Swift's Beloved Red Lipstick Is Finally Back in Stock
It's been a long time coming.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
8 Classics From Amal Clooney’s Capsule Wardrobe
From fitted blazers to delicate kitten heels.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
10 Holiday Gifts Marie Claire Editors Are Giving and Getting
Use our guide to simplify your shopping experience.
By The Editors at Marie Claire Published
-
Fashionable Gift Ideas for Every Type of Personal Style
From the classic dresser to the eccentric trendsetter.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Strathberry's Black Friday Sale Majorly Discounts Meghan Markle and Jennifer Lopez's Favorite Bags
Strathberry's best styles are 25 percent off.
By Kelsey Stiegman Last updated
-
How Do You Find Your Personal Style?
From Gen Alpha to an almost-centenarian, we asked six stylish people to share how they discovered their formula for getting dressed.
By Emma Childs Published
-
The Loewe Bags Everyone's Manifesting Right Now
From modern styles to heritage classics, these are the most coveted styles of the moment.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
7 Late Fall Essentials Marie Claire Editors Bought for November
Here are all the fashion and beauty must-haves to covet for the kickstart of the holiday season.
By Marie Claire Editors Published
-
This Winter’s Shoe Trends Embrace Individual Style
From edgy moto boots to classic loafers, there’s a shoe to suit every taste.
By Emma Childs Published