Serena Williams sent a fierce message with her French Open outfit.
The tennis star made a badass fashion statement at the Paris tournament on Monday, a year after angering organizers by wearing a black catsuit to deal with post-birth blood clots.
Williams warmed up on court at Roland Garros ahead of her first-round victory over Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko in a cape emblazoned with the French words for “champion,” “queen”, “mother” and “goddess.”
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Serena Williams at the French Open
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Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. wears a jacket with French text reading “Champion”, “Queen”, “Godess”, and “Mother” during warm-up prior to her first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. wears a jacket with French text reading “Champion”, “Queen”, “Godess”, and “Mother” after warming up prior to her first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. serves against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. screams after scoring a point against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. gestures after missing a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. gestures after missing a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. covers her face after missing a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. reacts after missing a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. takes off her jacket with French text reading “Champion”, “Queen”, “Godess”, and “Mother” after warming up prior to her first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the U.S. enters center court for her first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
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Williams had previewed her outfit, designed by Virgil Abloh and Nike, on Twitter Sunday:
She famously wore a black catsuit at the 2018 French Open.
It was her return to Grand Slam tennis after almost dying giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017.
“I feel like a warrior in it, like a warrior princess kind of, (a) queen from Wakanda,” Williams said at the time, in reference to the box office hit “Black Panther” movie.
“I’m always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it’s kind of my way of being a superhero,” she added. “I feel like a superhero when I wear it.”
However, the outfit was singled out by French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli in August when he announced a new dress code for the sporting event.
“It will no longer be accepted,” he reportedly said. “One must respect the game and place.” Days after Giudicelli’s comments, Williams wore an Abloh-designed tutu in the first round of the U.S. Open:
She followed it up with this lavender tutu, later on in the tournament:
Williams’ latest on-court fashion choice has inevitably made waves on social media:
- This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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