Serena Williams’ best fashion moments on court – as she makes tennis comeback at Queens
By Camilla Foster, PA
Tennis icon Serena Williams made her eagerly awaited return to the grass courts at the HSBC Championships in London on Tuesday.
Renowned for her fearless sense of style, the 23-time Grand Slam champion stepped onto the court in a white Nike sleeveless top, pale pink skirt and pink trainers, receiving a wildcard entry in the women’s doubles draw.
Partnering with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club, the pair secured a 7-6 (2) 6-2 first-round win over third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe at the HSBC Championships.
It was the 44-year-old’s first competitive match since bidding farewell to the sport at the US Open in 2022.
Throughout her illustrious career, the tennis star’s trailblazing on-court fashion statements have been as strong as her notorious stealthy serve, and has helped pave the way for many of the stylish looks that grace the courts today.
To mark her exciting return to the game, here are six of her most sensational fashion moments on court.
1. Yellow Puma dress at the US Open in 1999
As a young tennis prodigy, Serena had her first taste of grand slam victory at the US Open in 1999 aged just 17 in an unforgettable form-fitting yellow Puma tennis dress, featuring black-and-white pinstripes down each side.
To mark this life-changing occasion, she paired this eye-catching dress with gold jewellery.
This standout look was a far cry from traditional attire and foreshadowed how she would go onto completely redefined and continuously push the fashion boundaries in tennis.
2. Nike trench coat at Wimbledon in 2008
Serena turned heads and raised the bar of Wimbledon fashion forever when she rocked up to the centre court final in 2008 in a custom lightweight Nike trench coat before battling her sister Venus in one of their many Wimbledon face-offs.
Venus might have won the match, but this iconic elegant look from Serena is arguably more memorable.
3. Pink leopard print dress at the US Open in 2014
Not one to shy away from bright colours and patterns, the American tennis star showed off her wild side with a sleeveless hot pink leopard-print Nike tennis dress at the 2014 US Open.
She paired this fun scooped neckline dress with a fuchsia headband, and even her Nike tennis shoes included nods of pink to tie the whole look together.
4. Compression catsuit at the French Open in 2018
Serena channelled her inner superhero at Roland-Garros in 2018 in a sleek black catsuit which was accented with a thick red belt.
While the outfit sparked debate over tournament dress-code regulations, Serena later revealed that the skin-tight outfit served a vital purpose. The full-body compression garment was designed to help protect her from life-threatening blood clots which she suffered from post-pregnancy.
5. Lavender tutu at the US Open in 2018
For her second-round match at the 2018 US Open, Serena debuted a gorgeous soft lavender one-shoulder tutu dress which was designed by Off-White founder Virgil Abloh in collaboration with Nike.
This ballerina-esque skirt swished gracefully as she hit her mighty forehands during the match, and showed how tulle belongs both on and off the court.
6. Crystal ensemble at the US Open in 2022
For her final farewell at the US Open in 2022 following her decision to evolve away from the singles game, Serena stunned spectators with a dazzling jet-black figure skating-inspired dress.
This incredible bespoke Nike outfit was designed in collaboration with her own fine jewellery brand, Serena Williams Jewelry. It featured flattering long sheer sleeves and a six-layered skirt to represent each of her six previous US Open titles.
While the black design signified the closing chapter of her singles career, the crystal-studded bodice reflected the sparkling legacy that has secured her place among the greatest icons in both tennis and fashion.
