Serena’s ‘Wakanda-inspired’ catsuit serves a purpose

More than just a fashion statement as tennis great returns to the court

Serena Williams considers the black bodysuits he wore at the French Open much more than a tennis fashion statement.

There’ s a practical reason for the full-length legs on the skin-tight outfit: The aim is to protect her because of past bouts with blood clots.

There also is a message she want- ed to send about self-worth and feeling powerful as she returned to Grand Slam action with a firstround victory at Roland G arr os on Tuesday, about nine months after giving birth to a daughter.

“It feels like this suit represents all the women that have been through a lot mentally, physically, with their body to come back and have confidence and to believe in themselves ,” Williams said after beating Kristyna Pliskova at Court Philippe Chatrie r.

“I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids.”

The outfit called to mind Williams’ black“cat suit” that she wore at the 2002 U.S.Ope n.It also w as reminiscent of the white body suit that U.S. player Anne White wore at Wimbledon in 1985.

Williams referred to what she w ore Tuesday as the “catsuit— the new version ,2.0.”“I call it, like, my W aka nd a-inspired cat suit ,” referring to the fiction al nation in the film Black Panther.

“We designed it way before the mo vie ,” she said, “but still, it kind of reminds me of that .”

Williams said she fe e ls “like a warrior princess, kind of ,” when she wears the outfit.

“I’m always living in a fantasy world ,” she added .“I always wanted to bea super hero, andit’s kind of my way of being a super hero .”

Tuesday’ s match was the first at a major tournament for the 23 time Grand Slam champion in 16 months. She gave birth on Sept. 1, then dealt with complications related to a pulmonary embolism.

“I had a lot of problems with my blood clots, and, God, I don’ t know ho w many I have had in the past 12 months.

“So it is definitely a little functionality to it ,” Williams said.

“I have been wearing pants in general a lot when I play, so I can keep the blood circulation going. It’ s a fun suit, but it’ s also functional, so I can be able to play without any problems .”