DON T WANT TO BE A PLAYER NO MORE PROFESSIONAL

Gertrude вЂњGussieвЂќ MoranвЂ™s lacy shorts caused an uproar in 1949. Because of the shorts, she was accused of bringing вЂњvulgarity and sin into tennis.вЂќ Skirt lengths shortened, and American tennis player Gertrude Moran faced backlash for wearing a skirt that revealed a pair of lace shorts underneath. In the first half of the 20th century, tennis fashion was not without controversy. That meant flapper-inspired tennis attire in the 1920s, and, later, вЂ™50s-style cardigans and вЂ™60s mod. But as the decades went on, new fashions dictated what they wore. In the 1900s, women tennis players wore вЂњfloor-length skirts, stockings, and long-sleeved tops,вЂќ according to Allure. вЂњWhen Victorian women played tennis in the 1880s and 1890s, they were wearing their street clothes, which included heavy undergarments like corsets, bustles, and petticoats, and voluminous skirts that grazed the ground,вЂќ fashion historian Keren Ben-Horin told Allure. Victorians also believed that wearing white allowed athletes to sweat with little notice, although women tennis players dressed in a manner that prevented them from real physical exertion. The lower classes, who worked with their hands, couldnвЂ™t wear the color without getting dirty. The sport first caught on in class-conscious Victorian England, where white clothing was associated with wealth and privilege. Tennis whites only became a phenomenon because of Victorian notions of class and hygiene. He boycotted Wimbledon because of its all-white dress code. Why donвЂ™t they take a survey? Instead of asking some old guy behind a desk.вЂќДЄndre Agassi in 1991. вЂњThe idea is to make tennis enjoyable for people. In fact, in 1990 when tournament organizers considered the all-white route, Andre Agassi, known for his colorful ensembles, took offense. One reason GiudicelliвЂ™s decision to ban WilliamsвЂ™s catsuit has raised eyebrows is because, unlike Wimbledon and its all-white dress code, the French Open has traditionally been a tournament where players can express themselves through fashion. Her hair, body, and fashion choices have routinely been scrutinized, often with an undercurrent of race, sex, and class bias. One of the rare black women to dominate tennis, Williams has faced criticism throughout her career for not looking like the women whoвЂ™ve traditionally played the sport. The suggestion that Serena Williams doesnвЂ™t respect the game came across as a microaggression. вЂњI think that obviously the Grand Slams have a right to do what they want to do,вЂќ she said.Д«ut for some members of the public, the matter didnвЂ™t seem so simple. When asked about the catsuit ban, Williams, however, downplayed his remarks. While the ban on such ensembles is still unofficial, GiudicelliвЂ™s remark led to backlash. IвЂ™ve been wearing pants in general a lot when I play, so I can keep the blood circulation going.вЂќ вЂњGod, I donвЂ™t know how many IвЂ™ve had in the past 12 months. вЂњIвЂ™ve had a lot of problems with my blood clots,вЂќ she said at the French Open. She dedicated her Black Panther-inspired catsuit to вЂњ all the moms out there that had a tough pregnancy.вЂќ

Williams has a history of blood clots and developed one after giving birth to her daughter, Alexis, in September via C-section.

The idea that Williams disrespected the sport by wearing the bodysuit outraged fans because the tennis star explained that she wore the ensemble both with her health in mind and to inspire mothers. Fans defended the catsuit because health factored into why Williams wore it This makes Serena WilliamsвЂ™s Wakanda-inspired catsuit no more disrespectful of the sport than what tennis stars have worn on the court for more than a century.

DON T WANT TO BE A PLAYER NO MORE PROFESSIONAL

Throughout the history of professional tennis, the trends of the times have influenced player dress. Male and female players alike have toed the line when it comes to the dress codes imposed on them, and others have boycotted tournaments altogether because of the required attire. Williams herself weighed in and said she was not upset by the decision.Д«ut GiuidicelliвЂ™s comments ignore the history of the game: Tennis has long been a sport where athletesвЂ™ fashion choices have been the source of conflict. The catsuit ban led to considerable backlash in the days since it was announced. You have to respect the game and the place.вЂќ вЂњThe combination of Serena this year, for example, it will no longer be accepted. вЂњI think we sometimes went too far,вЂќ he said. While fans and the media praised the look, French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said in a Tennis Magazine interview published Friday that it wonвЂ™t be back. #justdoit /dDB6D9nzaD- Nike August 25, 2018Д«ut the catsuit wonвЂ™t be welcome at Roland Garros again. You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers.

Don t want to be a player no more