Nike Has the Perfect Response to That Serena Williams Catsuit Ban

Krystin Arneson
Updated

Serena Williams is basically a superhero, given that she played the French Open in May, her first tournament since giving birth to her daughter in September 2017. Williams did so in a black bodysuit designed especially for her by Nike. Although it looked great—and Williams is known for her on-the-court style—it had a health-related purpose: It was reportedly engineered to prevent blood clots from forming while she competed. (She suffered from blood clots after giving birth.)

Twitter went crazy for the sleek look, but apparently the French Tennis Federation did not: The organization is reportedly considering new regulations that would ban outfits like hers. "It will no longer be accepted," the federation president said, referring to outfits like Williams'. "One must respect the game and the place."

PARIS, FRANCE June 2. French Open Tennis Tournament - Day Seven. Serena Williams of the United States celebrates her win against Julia Goerges of Germany on Court Suzanne Lenglen in the Women's Singles Competition at the 2018 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 2nd 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Serena Williams of the US reacts after a point against Germany's Julia Goerges during their women's singles third round match on day seven of The Roland Garros 2018 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images)

However, Nike clearly stands by their catsuit. The company posted a tweet on Saturday that sure reads like a nod to the president's ban. "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers. #justdoit," the tweet reads.

Tennis historically has been slow with progress for women: Wimbledon still lists the best female players in the world by their husbands' names, and it was only this summer that the U.S. Open announced athletes won't get penalized for pregnancy leave anymore. Although the French Tennis Federation might see themselves as arbiters of style, let's hope they can embrace an era in which women are neither new moms or athletes, but both simultaneously.

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