Venus Williams gracefully exited the US Open on Tuesday, showing a commendable performance in her women’s doubles quarterfinal, while once again capturing attention with her on-court style and presence.
At 45, she made a remarkable comeback to tennis this year, becoming the oldest WTA singles winner since 2004 in July. Her matches in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles were must-watch events at Flushing Meadows.
Her on-court fashion drew breathless praise from publications like Vogue and InStyle, over 25 years after she and her sister Serena revolutionized tennis fashion, highlighting her lasting impact.
“For me, what you wear reflects who you are, and it’s about expressing myself on the court,” Williams said, following her loss with Canadian partner Leylah Fernandez to Australian Open champions Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.
“Wearing something you feel good in is a lot of fun.”
She sported a pleated, collared all-white outfit for her singles first-round match, paying homage to pioneer Althea Gibson, which received acclaim—just like her tenacious three-set loss to the 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
In women’s doubles, she donned a mesh-layered outfit with decorative trim and later a custom-designed dress from high-fashion brand Pucci.
Earlier this year, she bridged tennis and fashion by being the first to wear Lacoste on the red carpet at the iconic Met Gala.
“It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you feel good in it. I got to do that,” said Williams. “If it was fashionable, thank you for that.”
The striking looks underscore how players view fashion as essential for growing their sport.
“Fashion helps attract casual fans, bringing in a new demographic,” said 2023 champion Coco Gauff, who was defeated in the fourth round by four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
The 21-year-old, along with her longtime sponsor New Balance, collaborated with high-fashion brand Miu Miu on special kits worn earlier this year in Rome, Berlin, and Cincinnati, marking another high-profile partnership.
Gauff credited Serena Williams as pivotal in advancing tennis fashion.
“Brands now offer more than just one kit for their athletes. When I went to the US Open as a child, it felt like a cheerleading squad, everyone in the same kit,” she said.
Osaka’s shimmering purple Nike kit was the result of long planning, the four-time major winner revealed, with fittings occurring “months and months” before the tournament.
“It always excites me about what’s ahead that people aren’t aware of,” said Osaka, who has adorned her outfits with bejeweled Labubus on her racket bag.
“That kind of motivates me to perform well so I can showcase these outfits on a great court.”
