Serena Williams prompted mixed reactions with her very revealing choice of attire in her first round match against Germany’s Tatjana Maria, at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner wore the skin-tight green lycra jumpsuit, custom-made by her sponsor Nike, in her match against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday.
It comes just months after the French Open banned the 37-year-old from wearing a black spandex catsuit in this year’s tournament.
Serena is not the first to have worn a controversial outfit at the Australian Open. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the most eye-catching ensembles over past years.
Serena Williams impresses in Australian Open 2021
Venus Williams – 2010
Bold outfit choices run in the family, with Serena Williams’ older sister Venus, 40, sparking controversy during her singles quarter-final match against China’s Li Na, in 2010.
Venus sported a skin-tight yellow one-piece, with the hemline finishing mid-thigh.
Serena Williams’ older sister Venus Williams, wore a skin-tight yellow one-piece during her singles quarter-final match against China’s Li Na, in 2010
However it was not the choice of colour or skin-tight nature of the ensemble that had people talking.
It was rather her flesh-coloured underwear underneath, which looked from afar as if she was not wearing anything, as she moved across the court.
It was rather her flesh-coloured underwear underneath, which looked from afar as if she was not wearing anything, as she moved across the court
Bethanie Mattek-Sands – 2014
The American is known to experiment with colour, and this was particularly evident during her first round match against Russia’s Maria Sharapova, in 2014.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands of Russia, 35, made sure all eyes were on her during her first round match against Russia’s Maria Sharapova, in 2014
The 35-year-old made sure all eyes were on her, in a pink tank top, teamed with striped shorts under a multicoloured skirt, bejewelled sweatbands and her trademark knee-high socks.
The sports star wore a pink tank top, teamed with striped shorts under a multicoloured skirt, bejewelled sweatbands and her trademark knee-high socks
Bethanie says on her website that her fashion goes with her moods. ‘I do spur of the moment things and I might not do spur of the moment things. It’s all really random.’
Serena Williams – 2014 – 2017
Prior to her green catsuit moment, Serena made a statement during her fourth round match against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in 2014.
Serena once again turned heads during her fourth round match against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in 2014. The 23-time Grand Slam winner revealed her toned legs in a thigh-skimming pink Nike one-piece
The sports star donned a pink speckled dress by Nike, with the hemline finishing mid-thigh, and surprisingly added a restrictive buttoned-up blazer in a coordinating hue.
In 2016, Serena revealed her toned tummy during her match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber, in a canary yellow Nike midriff and a pleated mini-skirt.
Surprisingly, Serena Williams added a restrictive buttoned-up blazer in a coordinating hue
And the year later, during her singles final match against sister Venus, Serena wore a flared top with a piano keys print, three-quarter black leggings and two-toned hi-top sneakers.
Camilla Giorgi – 2015
Camilla Giorgi, little to the imagination in a blue Versace-inspired print tank, teamed with the most minuscule of shorts in matching fabric, in her third-round match against Venus Williams in 2015
The Italian tennis star, 27, left little to the imagination in a blue Versace-inspired print tank, teamed with the most minuscule of shorts in matching fabric, in her third-round match against Venus Williams in 2015.
Keeping to the blue theme, Camilla tied her locks back with a scrunchie.
Skin-tight: And just two days earlier during her match against the Czech Republic’s Tereza Smitkova, Camilla donned a skin-tight pink lace tank, with a matching pair of minuscule shorts
And just two days earlier during her match against the Czech Republic’s Tereza Smitkova, Camilla donned a skin-tight pink lace tank, with a matching pair of minuscule shorts.
A satin belt in a lighter pink hue added a touch of flair to her on-court look.
Svetlana Kuznetsova – 2016
Psychedelic: Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova, 33, turned heads during her match against the Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko in 2016. She revealed her toned figure in a neon pink sleeveless top with mesh panels, and a thigh-skimming multicoloured skirt
The Russian sports star, 33, turned heads during her match against the Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko in 2016.
Svetlana revealed her toned figure in a neon pink sleeveless top with mesh panels, and a thigh-skimming multicoloured skirt.
She added a blue sweatband and neon orange laces to her grey sneakers.
Eugenie Bouchard – 2017
Revealing: Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, 24, showed skin during her third round match against Coco Vandeweghe of the US in 2017. She wore a white crop and an abstract skirt, disregarding tennis’ standard guideline of not exposing one’s midriff
Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, 24, revealed plenty of skin during her third round match against Coco Vandeweghe of the US in 2017.
Wearing a white Nike crop top and a black and white abstract skirt with attached bike shorts, also by Nike, Eugenie disregarded tennis’ standard guideline of not exposing one’s midriff.