Publications
Partners
Paris - One year after her 'Black Panther' catsuit caused controversy, Serena Williams returned to Roland Garros on Monday, dressed in a zebra-striped cape emblazoned with the words 'mother, champion, queen, goddess'.
The 37-year-old American wore the Nike-backed black-and-white cape as she arrived on Court Philippe Chatrier for her opening match against Vitalia Diatchenko.
The legend of 'mother, champion, queen, goddess' was written in French in a nod to her hosts.
Once the cape was removed, Williams revealed a black and white zebra-stripe print dress.
Williams fell foul of Roland Garros last year with her one-piece black outfit which she said she needed to wear to boost her circulation.
She had suffered blood clots when she gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia.
"I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena's outfit, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place," said French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli.
Let the Roland Garros begin. Here is my French Open look designed by @virgilabloh and @Nike. pic.twitter.com/niiyqoI94m
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) May 26, 2019
Serena Williams drops the first set of her first-round #RG19 match to Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-2. FOLLOW: https://t.co/Wd83pemvJ2 pic.twitter.com/Ds9YVmURZW
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) May 27, 2019
Serena Williams is back at the French Open and debuting her latest Off-White collaboration with creative director Virgil Abloh #RG19 (Reuters/Getty) pic.twitter.com/MfYvV3M5pM
— Uche Amako (@UcheAmako) May 27, 2019
Serena Williams has lost her opening set 6-2 against Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) May 27, 2019
Could she be heading out in the first round for the first time since 2012?
Live text & commentary: https://t.co/W8EDQ5qq0V #FrenchOpen #RG19 pic.twitter.com/u2b4AsXJVs
