The story behind Serena Williams’ Australian Open one-legged catsuit

Serena Williams took just 56 minutes to dispose of Laura Siegemund in Melbourne on Monday, but the debate made by her choice of outfit will last considerably longer.

The 23-time major winner debuted a long-sleeved, one-legged colourful catsuit inspired by sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner in her 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Joyner remains the fastest woman in history and won three golds at the 1988 Olympics, although the end of her career was clouded by allegations – never proved – of doping.

Her status as a track icon was abetted by her attention-grabbing catsuits and nail art and that legacy appears to have been embraced by Williams.

“I was inspired by FloJo, who was a wonderful track athlete when I was growing up,” she said. “Watching her fashion, just always changing, her outfits were always amazing.

This year we thought of what can we do to keep elevating Serena Williams on the court.
“The Nike team actually thought of this design of inspiration from FloJo.

I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is so brilliant.’ That’s where we started. Obviously we made some changes and tweaks to it. It became this.”

As her quest for a record 24 grand slam titles continues, Williams’s penchant for creative on-court outfits remains.

Over her three-decade career she has pushed the dress code beyond the traditional in tennis, a cape and tutu just two examples of her more recent sartorial choices, but they are not all style over substance.