Even if you’re not a tennis fan, you know that Serena Williams is a powerful force to be reckoned with. And if you are a tennis fan, you know her record. Williams has earned a staggering 23 major titles and four Olympic gold medals.
And she has managed to look good the entire time. In fact, the only thing Serena serves harder than a tennis ball are absolutely killer looks. And we’ve going to explore her 10 best tennis outfits of all time!
Pretty in pink
Serena learned early on that you can make a powerful splash by adding a bit of color to your ensemble. And that’s why she played at the 2004 French Open with a pink Nike two-piece outfit.
The skirt and crop top raised more than a few eyebrows. But Serena didn’t mind being seen. Look closely, and you’ll see she is rocking a sparkling ring on her belly button.
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Back in black
Serena was very colorful when she played at the 2004 French Open. But at the 2004 US Open, she kept things simple with a tasteful black ensemble.
One part tennis outfit and one part stylish streetwear, this look really blended the worlds of fashion and sports together. We particularly loved the pleated miniskirt, though she certainly didn’t need any help standing out.
Bright yellow
Make no mistake: Serena knows exactly what she is doing with these awesome outfits. She’s a big believer in pushing the envelope of fashion just as hard as she pushes her skills on the tennis court.
That’s why she wore this canary-yellow crop-top and matching skirt to the 2016 Australian Open. she continues to take everyone’s idea of what a professional sports player should be wearing and turning that idea on its head.
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Nonstop neon
That canary-yellow look wasn’t the first time Serena showed Australia some high fashion. At the 2015 Australian Open, she wore an ensemble that combined neon yellow and hot pink together.
The outfit looks amazing in still images. And when Serena ended up defeating Maria Sharapova and winning her 19th title, she looked like a very colorful blur out on the tennis court!
Sheer leopard look
Serena has worn a catsuit on the court more than once. But when she competed at Wimbledon in 2015, she had to get a bit creative.
The Wimbledon dress code requires players to wear white, so Serena couldn’t bust out any of her really colorful looks. So she opted for a semi-sheer leopard pattern that helped distinguish her from the other players.
Not that she needed help. Serena ultimately walked away from this match with her 21st title!
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Playing ‘doubles’
What’s better than bringing one killer outfit to the 2012 US Open? Bringing two killer outfits, of course!
For her daytime matches, Serena wore a hot-pink pleated knit dress and a splash of neon green for the blocking panel. For nighttime matches, she wore a navy blue outfit that featured the same green blocking panel.
This wasn’t the only time Serena doubled up her outfits. At the 2016 US Open, she wore a pleated white dress with pink accents by day and a pleated black dress with the same pink accents at night!
Those cut-outs, though
Most of Serena’s outfits stand out due to what she is wearing. But at the 2019 Wimbledon, Serena turned heads specifically because of what she wasn’t wearing.
In terms of cut and color, the white dress wasn’t as adventurous as some of her other outfits. But she had special cut-outs on the side that helped show off her skin while she played. To finish the outfit, she wore a matching white headband and some tasteful hoop earrings.
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Killer transformation
When is Serena Williams a bit like a Transformer? When she competes at the 2005 Australian Open!
For this event, she wore a special “transformation dress.” The lime green and white coloring is already eye-catching. But what makes this dress so special is that it is a three-in-one outfit where the dress can be both a top and a skirt.
While the dress got most of the attention, don’t ignore her special boots. These so-called “space boots” were custom-made to go with the rest of her outfit.
Short jumpsuit
Way back in 2002, Serena wore a short black jumpsuit to compete at Flushing Meadows. She later said this outfit was her favorite.
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Banned catsuit
But when she wore something similar at the 2018 French Open, she caused a major controversy.
There, she wore a black catsuit with a splash of red around the waist. It’s pretty modest by most standards, but French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli actually banned that outfit.
As Insider reports, he claimed his decision was fueled by the idea that players “have to respect the game and the place.”
Playing in a tutu
Giudicelli’s decision to ban William’s catsuit was blasted by some as being racist and sexist, punishing a Black woman for displaying her body. Meanwhile, others were merely puzzled why her full-body coverage outfit was considered more inappropriate than the more revealing short skirts that are deemed acceptable for female tennis players to wear.
And when Serena showed up to her first game after that ban wearing a tutu, fans could see exactly what she thought of his decision!
One-legged catsuit
Williams hasn’t let the catsuit controversy get her down — or stop her from wearing catsuits! At the 2021 Australian Open, she wore her most daring and original catsuit yet!
It’s a one-legged Nike catsuit that combines black, red, and pink. The outfit was designed to honor the sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, but it took no time at all for Serena to make this look another part of her iconic wardrobe.