Serena Williams dominated women's tennis for over 20 years. But her legacy is about more than winning. Her bold fashion choices paved the way for stars like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka.

As per reports by Harper's Bazaar, one of Williams' boldest fashion statements dates back to 2018. After her French Open loss to Maria Sharapova, she made sure all eyes were on her at the US Open.

For her opening match, the 23-time Grand Slam champion wore a one-shoulder black tennis dress with a tutu-style skirt. The outfit was created by Virgil Abloh, for Nike’s “Queen” collection.

She completed the look with a pair of custom silver sneakers. She also added a leather jacket with a utility strap and carried a matching tennis bag.

ReRe debuted the outfit during her first-round match against Magda Linette at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She backed up the look with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory.

After the match, Williams opened up about the dress during an interview with The Cut.

“When I teamed up with Virgil and he pulled out this tutu, I was like… This is the moment I’ve been waiting for."

The fashion statement continued in the second round as well. Williams wore a periwinkle blue tutu dress. It featured a long left sleeve, a sleeveless right side, mesh detailing on the shoulder, and multiple layers of tulle.

The dress also included built-in undershorts, a black Nike swoosh, the word "LOGO" on the chest, and "SERENA" printed down the sleeve. But, what made both outfits even more significant was the timing.

Williams debuted them shortly after French Tennis Federation president, Bernard Giudicelli banned her from wearing the famous "Black Panther" catsuit she had previously worn at the French Open.

“I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far,” he said. Giudicelli later added, “It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place.”

The ban raised plenty of questions. Williams, however, let her fashion do the talking. And now that she is set to return to the court this June, fans are eager to see not only how she plays, but also what outfit she chooses for her comeback.

Why Serena Williams Chose London for Comeback

It's official that Serena Williams will make her comeback at the WTA 500 HSBC Championships in London. The 44-year-old would be returning on court 196 weeks after her last appearance at the 2022 US Open.

The announcement became official on Monday when Williams received a doubles wildcard into the tournament. ReRe also explained why Queen's Club felt like the right place to begin her return.

“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages."

And it's easy to see why she feels that way. Serena posted an 87% win rate on grass during her career, winning 107 of 123 singles matches. That mark is even better than her success on hard courts (85%) and clay (roughly 81.6%).

Anyway, according to The Athletic, she is expected to partner 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, although the WTA has said her partner will "be announced in due course."

Having said that, if Serena Williams unveils a new signature outfit at Queen's Club, what style would you like her to bring back or reinvent? Let us know your thoughts.

What are your thoughts on Serena Williams comeback?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi