Serena Williams demonstrated that she is determined to end her glittering sporting career with style. She walked on Arthur Ashe Stadium court looking like a rockstar and left with a round 2 match.
In front of a 25,000-strong celebrity-packed crowd, Williams arrived to chants of ‘GOAT’ and appeared every inch the queen of tennis glamour in a show-stopping bespoke Nike dress with crystal-encrusted bodice and train, which was inspired by the ensembles worn by figure skaters, the brand revealed.
Olympia, daughter of Flushing Meadows’ 1998 debutant, was standing nearby and wore the mini-me version. Her hair had white beads, as a tribute, to Olympia.
Williams, 40 years old, was a sensation in her all-black, shimmering tennis dress. It included six layers to symbolize her six US Open victories.
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The GOAT look: Serena Williams arrived at court wearing a stunning all-black ensemble that included a shimmering train and gold-encrusted Nike tags. Her hair was adorned with crystals.
Nike claimed that the former star of figure skating had given her ‘the whole vision’ for the exciting design.
Glamour: Serena Williams beat Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic (6-3, 6-3) in the US Open’s first-round on Monday night, with crystals run through her hair and PE NikeCourt Flare 2, which included a diamond-encrusted Swoosh, along with the solid gold lace deubrés
However the star admitted in the post-match interview at Flushing Meadows after beating Montenegrin Danka Kovinić 6-3, 6-3 that she’d had to remove four of the said layers to play comfortably.
Nike’s kit design team didn’t hesitate to make sure Williams’ final outfit on court was a memorable one.
A brand spokesperson stated that the bodice and skirt were inspired by the graceful figure skating dresses.
The brand worked with the star and designers at her Serena Williams Jewelry company, with diamonds featuring on her shoes, crystals run through her hair, and jewels encrusted on the bridal-style train and across the sheer tennis dress – inspired ‘by the night sky’ that she wore to dispatch Kovinić in straight sets.
After the match, Gayle King gushed that she had used six layers of clothing to symbolize the six victories. But four were too heavy so she took out the fourth.
The star worked with Nike to create the final kit before the tournament began. Williams said that she was providing the vision for the design and dialing in the details to ensure she felt confident and comfortable.
Her shoes were PE NikeCourt Flare 2, which included a diamond-encrusted Swoosh, along with the solid gold lace deubrés – Nike’s name for its signature shoelace tags, which sit at the front of the shoe.
Serena, however, was not a traditional metal model. Instead, she wore intricate designs that included 400 hand-set diamonds.
Olympia was almost five and wearing white beads. These were the same ones that Serena wore as a teenager when she made her debut at the tournament. It also looked like a miniature version of her mom’s sparkling outfit.
Alexis Ohanian was Serena’s husband. He sat alongside Olympia, Olympia’s little girl. Olympia wore the same white beads as Serena did when she appeared for the first time at the tournament.
Serena Williams breezed to an easy first-round win over Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic on Monday night in Flushing, Queens
Serena Williams celebrates after defeating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro on Monday night in New York
The match was the hottest ticket in town in New York on Monday, with a star-studded crowd at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Vera Wang, Mike Tyson, Hugh Jackman, Anna Wintour and even Bill Clinton were all on hand to see Serena Williams begin her final US Open with an easy victory.
Anthony Anderson, Huma Abedin, Spike Lee, Rebel Wilson, Lindsey Vonn, and New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor were also in attendance, as was Mayor Eric Adams.
Williams would not choose a better location to end her farewell than Flushing. There she has won six singles titles, a pair in doubles, and many other New York celebrity appearances, such as being seated together on Monday night.
Following Serena’s win in the US Open’s first round, many people hold signs saying “We love you Serena.”
Mike Tyson was seen alongside retired tennis legend, Martina Navratilova, and her well-behaved lap dog
nna Wintour looks on prior to the match between Serena Williams and Danika Kovinic of Montenegro on Monday in Queens
Tyson was alongside retired tennis legend, Martina Navratilova, and her well-behaved lap dog, while Clinton was curiously seated next to Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the famous German-American sex therapist and talk show host. Alexis Ohanian (Serena’s billionaire husband) was seen next to Olympia, her four-year-old girl.
It was a historic moment when Williams saw the stage one more time. According to TicketIQ, the average resale price of this year’s US Open tickets has increased by 68 percent, to $512, since Williams retired.
Hugh Jackman, actor (C), watches Serena Williams face Danka Kovinic from Montenegro during their match in the first round.
Curiously, Bill Clinton was seen seated next to German-American sex therapist and talk show host, Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Meanwhile, secondary-market ticket prices for Monday’s first-round match spiked 300 percent, with the average ticket price hitting $987 — a record since TicketIQ began tracking the data in 2011.
Those fans didn’t pay to see Kovinic play, as he was facing Williams and the entire Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd on Monday.
Williams said that “the crowd was insane” after her match. “They helped me get through. It was like I had a high.
Williams spoke with Gayle Kings, CBS. Williams stated, “I want people think about how hard it takes to succeed.” It is important that you give everything you have, regardless of the obstacles or successes. In public, I have been so down that I had to go back many times… But I never gave up.
Although it sounds cliché, no matter your circumstances, my story will inspire you. My name is Compton and I am proud of it.