No Controversy Here: Williams Downplays Rift over Catsuit with FFT
Move away from the internet: there’s no controversy here.Serena Williams defused any potential bad blood between herself and the French Open on Saturday by saying she was okay with Roland Garros’ decision to ban her catsuit if she tried to wear it again next year.“I think that obviously the Grand Slams have a right to do what they want to do,” Williams said. “I feel like if and when, or if they know that some things are for health reasons, then there’s no way that they wouldn’t be okay with it. So I think it’s fine.”
.@serenawilliams made light of the French Open banning her catsuit: pic.twitter.com/Ltyx7BUcWM
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2018
Earlier this week, FFT president Bernard Guidicelli made headlines when he was quoted in a magazine article as saying: “I think we sometimes went too far. The combination of Serena this year, for example, it will no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place.”Williams told media that she has a good relationship with Guidicelli and they’ve been talking about the issue.When asked the following question: Do you understand their perspective about the outfit? [Guidicelli] seemed to say it was disrespectful? Williams replied:“I don’t know exactly what he seemed to say or what he didn’t seem to say or what. We already talked. Like I said, we have a great relationship. We talked yesterday, yeah. Everything’s fine, guys.”Nike—and many others—was quick to capitalize on the news, and the fervor, with a well-timed social media post before Williams downplayed it:
Support for Williams was everywhere on Twitter as well. Some of that support was, well, a little over the top, especially when juxtaposed with Williams’ muted reaction:
This sexist, racist provincialism directed against Serena is very simply resolved. American sports media should and can immediately stop recognizing the French Open as part of the tennis “Grand Slam.” And players of both genders should decline to play. https://t.co/fEWtvZSCEd
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) August 25, 2018
I think Serena Williams should start her own tournament and have it at the same time as the French open. I’d watch it over the French any day of the week.
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) August 25, 2018
“The French Open needs to learn how to respect the GREATEST OF ALL TIME and stop telling Serena Williams what to wear.” https://t.co/lxwmmPix9f
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 25, 2018
Personally like the Wimbledon all-white rule and the lengths they go to protect it. This re Serena Williams at the French Open, however, is preposterous – https://t.co/DTyC0BkSNV
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) August 25, 2018
Williams, who passed on the catsuit in favor of compression leggings at Wimbledon, originally wore the catsuit at Roland Garros to prevent blood clots from forming in her body. She says she has found other means to remedy her precarious health situation.“I’ve since found other methods,” Williams said, adding: “When it comes to fashion, you don’t want to be a repeat offender. It will be a while before this even has to come up again.” ]]>
