In the wake of Serena Williams’ cat suit controversy, there’s no denying womens fashion on the tennis court remains a point of contention.
Sure, the skirts have become shorter and the styles have become bolder, but there’s definitely room for improvement when some of tennis’s most powerful women like Serena still face scrutiny.
Serena Williams was told her black skin-tight catsuit would not be tolerated at Roland Garros in the future.
Looking back, Serena certainly wasn’t the first to test the boundaries of tennis court attire. In fact, women have been pushing the confines around tennis fashion since the 1920s. Players like French legend Suzanne Lenglen shocked spectators when she stepped out in a knee-length dress on the court.
But it was women like Suzanne who started the conversations and contributed to making these small wardrobe developments the norm – and thank goodness they did – you’d be hard pressed to see a tennis player don a knee-length skirt on the court today.
Over the years since, we’ve seen tennis court fashions range from practical to completely outlandish. Yet all of them make a powerful statement: Women have the power to make an impression that changes the way we think about things. We think that’s worth celebrating.
Here, we round up some of the most inspiring fashion moments that have occurred on the tennis court over the past 100 years.
Lili De Alvarez and Kitty Godfree, Wimbledon 1926
The game stakes were high, but the glamour was on another level in the 1920s. A time where fur trimmed coats and calf-grazing dresses were deemed appropriate on the tennis court.
Suzanne Lenglen, Wimbledon 1930
Suzanne is an original revolutionary when it comes to on-court fashion. Raising the hem of her skirt, she was one of the first to embrace practicality and function over tradition.
Alice Marble, Wimbledon 1937
Marble was one of the first to wear shorts on the tennis court, taking leave from the traditional long skirt and heavy restrictive clothing that was part and parcel to the times.
Lea Pericoli, 1964
Pericoli’s daring fashion choices on the court generated such a frenzy that she would often keep her outfits a secret until the time of play. This feathered number was designed by British sportswear designer Teddy Tinling.
Billie Jean King, Wimbledon 1975
Billie Jean and daring on-court fashion go hand-in-hand. This blue and white embroidered mini-dress certainly had heads turning.
Anne White, Wimbledon 1985
Before Serena, Anne White tested the waters by wearing an all-white cat suit to Wimbledon. Not surprisingly, it left a strong impression, with White’s opponent Pam Shriver complaining about the outfit to tournament officials after she lost the match.
Serena Williams, US Open 2004
A denim mini skirt and crop top is a daring choice in any circumstance, but this tennis legend embraced the look in all its glory. Power to you, Serena.
Maria Sharapova, US Open 2006
Coco Chanel introduced the concept of the ‘little black dress’ in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the design was truly embraced on the tennis court. The look was definitely a winner – Sharapova took out the Championship.
Caroline Wozniacki, Indian Wells 2011
Wozniacki’s partnership with Adidas by Stella McCartney has led her to don some trendy garments over the years. The ruffled neckline on this navy-blue dress looked perfectly chic.
Venus Williams, Wimbledon 2011
Like her sister, Venus has been known to make some bold fashion choices on the tennis court. This white romper turned heads at Wimbledon, with the Daily Mail calling it a “ghastly playsuit.”
Serena Williams, Roland Garros 2018
Serena wore this controversial black cat suit less than a year after giving birth to her daughter Olympia. She said she wore the suit because it was “my way of being a superhero”.
Serena Williams, US Open 2018
Following the renowned cat suit, the new mum then stepped out in a black tutu at the 2018 US Open, a bold, feminine statement that proves she still has power when it comes to her wardrobe.
