Serena Williams’ mark on the tennis world will live on
Serena Williams will not merely go down in history as one of the greatest athletes of our time.
Though that is a feat in itself, Williams’ footprint on fashion has reshaped how we look at fitness wear and has redefined the standard of dress for women in tennis and beyond. She also has used her voice and style as an agent of change.
In her first match at the U.S. Open this week, in which she defeated Danka Kovinic, Williams wore a custom Nike tennis outfit inspired by figure-skating fashion that included a six-layer skirt, representing her six U.S. Open titles. It was jet-black with a crystal bodice, a nod to the night sky at the tournament. She walked onto the court with a coordinating sparkling black cape — all of which she designed herself.
There was no better look for the 40-year-old champion.
On her feet, she wore custom Nikes with a diamondencrusted swoosh and 400 crystals that spelled, “mama” and “queen” on the laces — a collaboration with her jewelry brand.
Williams’ tennis style resonates with Houston women who play the sport.
“Serena’s fashion choices are not nearly as important as her ability to make these choices,” said Sharon Evans-Brooks, a competitive tennis player and owner of Kids Tennis 2 You, which offers mobile tennis lessons for children.
“She has a fierce spirit that shows in her style, and combined with her high achievement, that’s what we want for all girls. It’s not about the lace, sequins and rhinestones. She stands in her truth.”
The native of Compton, Calif., played fiercely on the U.S. Open court, while her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., wore white beads in her braids, just as her mother did two decades ago.
On Wednesday, she defeated the No. 2 seed, Anett Kontaveit.
Williams, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, recently graced the cover of Vogue for its prestigious September issue, wearing a blue Balenciaga gown, while her daughter appeared in a white dress, with her face hidden behind the train of her mom’s flowy gown. Inside the magazine, Williams announced her retirement in an essay.
“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote. “I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.”
That’s the sad truth to her swan song — if she were a guy, it would be different.
In Williams’ two decades in the sport, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles, she has never bowed to pressure to conform as an athlete, as a Black woman or as a lover of fashion. She’s been unapologetically herself with each role.
In August 2018, nearly a year after her daughter was born, Williams donned a black Nike catsuit with a red waistband — a compression piece to prevent blood clots. She said it made her feel like a “warrior princess.” She’s also had a taste for asymmetrical outfits, including a one-sleeved lavender tutu dress designed by the late Virgil Abloh that she wore at the French Open.
Andrea Bonner, chair of Houston Community College’s fashion program, has been playing tennis since she was a child. She sees Williams as a role model in a sport in which classic polos and tennis skirts are the norm.
“When we saw her with Venus playing — two little Black girls with beads slinging every time they hit the ball — it was refreshing,” she said. “We’ve seen her outfits get flashier and flashier over the years. She’s shown that an athlete doesn’t have to be in a box in a very conservative sport. You can push the fashion envelope, show your personality in how you dress and still be a champion.”
Williams has made so many fashion moments on the court. Now she’s focusing on the next chapter, including her S by Serena brand, which has a “The GOAT” collection of hoodies, dresses, pants, skirts and jumpsuits.
Undoubtedly, she will continue making her mark in arenas other than tennis.