Serena Williams Catsuit at the Australian Open

But the fact that she kept doing it after the initial hoo-ha transformed what could have been a momentary kerfuffle into a cause. After all, the first catsuit worn on-court was modeled by Anne White, who wore a … well, white, style to play her first round match at Wimbledon in 1985. That prompted the tournament official to suggest she wear a different outfit the next day. She bowed to that pressure, and that was the end of it until Ms. Williams appeared in her version not quite two decades later.

Ms. Williams, however, didn’t just double down on her original look. She tripled down on it. And according to the rule of change, one example of anything is a fluke, two is a coincidence, and three is a trend.

So what is this trend about? It’s not just about the garment itself. It’s about allowing female players agency over their on-court choices, and about breaking down old stereotypes about what is and is not appropriate for women to wear. And who gets to decide.

For decades, tennis style was rooted in an arcane idea of femininity, even as other sports left such clichés behind. It has slowly been dragged into the 21st century. Ms. Williams is simply turbocharging the process and forcing everyone to grapple with the issue, from officials to viewers.

Indeed, thanks to the French Open absurdity, the Women’s Tennis Association created a new rule specifically stating, “Leggings and mid-thigh length compression shorts may be worn with or without a skirt, shorts, or dress.”

This far, this time around, the catsuit has been met with a pretty positive response. “Greatness inspiring greatness” is the general feeling. As Ms. Williams has progressed through the tournament, it has become a sort of supersuit: a symbol of not just her physical strength but her strength of character.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/style/serena-williams-catsuit-australian-open.html