Grow up, French Tennis Federation: We know why you have a problem with Serena Williams' body-hugging catsuit
Serena knows how not to deflect the attention from the game that matters.
How does one go too far?
The answer will depend very much on who this ‘one’ is.
If this is tennis diva Serena Williams, wearing a body-hugging black catsuit for certain medical reasons, sending a message to all women physically recovering from tough pregnancies, yes, that’s quite too far in a city universally known for its fashion sense.
The French Tennis Federation did not quite like it when May last, Williams appeared in her first Slam, after giving birth to daughter Olympia, dressed in a Black Panther-inspired catsuit.
She was seen as a real-life Marvel superhero; she felt like one, she said.
Catsuit anyone? For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy—here you go. If I can do it, so can you. Love you all!! pic.twitter.com/xXb3BKDGNF
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) May 29, 2018
We all know that Serena did not have a smooth pregnancy. Yes, she won the Australia Open in 2017, two months into her pregnancy. But soon after Olympia was born, things became complicated. Williams already had a history of blood clotting for which she used to take blood thinners. But as she underwent a ceasarean section operation for childbirth, she stopped taking the blood thinners, which resulted in blood clots in her lungs.
She started coughing so much because of the blood clots in her lungs that her C-section wound reopened.
All these became a part of the legend when Williams was again seen moving seamlessly on the court in May this year, wearing a full-length Nike suit which was protecting against blood clots.
But then, the federation decided to dismiss all these — in the name of “respect”.
Respect for what?
The game and the place.
Of course not for a genius’s struggle, who made tennis so fashionable with her strong clothing statements (mostly in US opens), whose ranking dropped from No 1 to No 453 in the Women’s Tennis Association charts during her maternity leave, and again rose to No 26.
Williams reacted to French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli’s disapproval of the catsuit. Of course, the federation is actually free to decide what they want to do.
But then, isn’t singling out Serena Williams’ catsuit to make a watershed comment on what the federation won’t approve of in the future a disservice to the player?
Hasn’t the federation gone ‘too far’ by implying that Serena actually disrespected the ‘game and the place’ by her catsuit?
Is the game all about adhering to Puritanism, without allowing its legends to rise and shine? The players must share equal blame to continue this suffocating trend as they were the first ones to take to social media to point out that Serena’s catsuit is so cool and all.
But was it allowed?
Nothing against Serena's outfit, looks pretty cool actually. But just wondering how is that allowed by the rules if we only allowed to wear legging until the middle of the calf the longest, and ALWAYS have to wear skirt/shorts on top of the leggings.Were there any rules changes?
— Arina Rodionova (@arinarodionova) May 30, 2018
This controversy over “appropriate dress” has no end.
Wimbledon has a strict all-white rule since its inception, which has ruffled almost all tennis players’ feathers at some point of time.
Incidents of players being asked to change their undergarments are plenty.
According to a report, the all-white code dates back to the 1880s, “Where the sight of sweat through clothing was seen as unseemly, especially for women.”
Also, this white has no leeway to accommodate off-white or cream.
Still, there have been aberrations. Brow-raising ones, involving a Serena-like catsuit as well.
In 1985, American tennis player Anne White wore a white catsuit. Venus Williams was reportedly forced to change her bra midway when her pink straps were spotted.
The French Open does not have a dress code like Wimbledon. But it would not allow catsuits.
In 2013, Roger Federer was warned because his shoes had orange soles.
While the ban on Serena’s catsuit has triggered debates on gender bias, racial bias, etc., Serena knows how not to deflect the attention from the game that matters.
She won’t be a repeat offender in front of fashion policing, the 36-year-old athlete, who has her own fashion line, said, watering down the controversy.
Some attribute this to the influence of her French coach. But we know that even if Serena ditches the black catsuit in the next French Open, she will make a fashion statement in whatever she wears.
Maybe it won't be Wakanda forever. But Serena Williams' swag is forever.