Serena Williams turns heads with striking outfit at US Open lefty

The 36-year-old downed 68th-ranked Magda Linette of Poland 6-4 6-0 in her first home slam since becoming a mother.

But after French Open organizers ruled out a repeat of the black catsuit she wore in Paris for next year, all eyes were on what the 23-time grand slam singles champion would be wearing at Flushing Meadows.

She didn't disappoint.



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Williams entered the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a $900 black bomber jacket with white stitching, over a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt.



'It's easy to play in,' Williams said in a news conference afterwards.

'Kind of aerodynamic with the one arm free. It feels really good. Yeah, the tutu is easy to play in because I practiced in it before. That was fun.'

READ: Serena's catsuit consigned to the closet

READ: Nadal's new challenge at the US Open: a 25-second shot clock

Dress code

The dress, designed by Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director Virgil Abloh, one of the hottest names in fashion, for Nike, was the culmination of a perfect public relations campaign in the past week for Williams' long-time clothing sponsor.

First, there was controversy over the black Nike catsuit Williams wore at Roland Garros, which prompted officials to introduce a dress code for the first time in Paris next year.

Then came a cleverly timed Nike ad, showing a moving home video of Williams practising her serve with her father and former coach, Richard Williams, when she was nine years old. Williams Sr. is telling his daughter to pretend she is at the US Open.

The ad has had close to five million views.

READ: Meet the luckiest of all losers

Venus clash looms

Williams' preparation for the year's final major was not ideal, having played just three matches on US hard courts and having to postpone her pre-tournament press conference in New York by a day because she wasn't feeling well.

None of that mattered against Linette, whom Williams dismissed in 70 minutes as she struck 23 winners and made 18 unforced errors.

'I thought it was a good match,' Williams said. 'Magda, she's such a fighter. She's a very hard worker...I think overall I had a little shaky start, but I got into it.'

Williams plays world No. 101 Carina Witthoeft of Germany in the second round, before a possible blockbuster clash against her older sister Venus, who overcame former US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in a three-set match lasting close to three hours.

Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos

Serena Williams, a six-time winner in New York who is seeded 17th after returning from maternity leave earlier in the year, didn't want to be drawn on playing her sister just yet.

'Just got to play, hopefully get there,' she said.

READ: Serena's catsuit consigned to the closet READ: Meet the luckiest of all losers First, there was controversy over the black Nike catsuit Williams wore at Roland Garros, which prompted officials to introduce a dress code for the first time in Paris next year. Williams plays world No. 101 Carina Witthoeft of Germany in the second round, before a possible blockbuster clash against her older sister Venus, who overcame former US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in a three-set match lasting close to three hours. She didn't disappoint. The 36-year-old downed 68th-ranked Magda Linette of Poland 6-4 6-0 in her first home slam since becoming a mother. READ: Meet the luckiest of all losers READ: Serena's catsuit consigned to the closet Williams' preparation for the year's final major was not ideal, having played just three matches on US hard courts and having to postpone her pre-tournament press conference in New York by a day because she wasn't feeling well. READ: Meet the luckiest of all losers READ: Nadal's new challenge at the US Open: a 25-second shot clock None of that mattered against Linette, whom Williams dismissed in 70 minutes as she struck 23 winners and made 18 unforced errors. Venus clash looms 'I thought it was a good match,' Williams said. 'Magda, she's such a fighter. She's a very hard worker...I think overall I had a little shaky start, but I got into it.' The 36-year-old downed 68th-ranked Magda Linette of Poland 6-4 6-0 in her first home slam since becoming a mother. Williams plays world No. 101 Carina Witthoeft of Germany in the second round, before a possible blockbuster clash against her older sister Venus, who overcame former US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in a three-set match lasting close to three hours. Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos Venus clash looms 'Just got to play, hopefully get there,' she said. First, there was controversy over the black Nike catsuit Williams wore at Roland Garros, which prompted officials to introduce a dress code for the first time in Paris next year. Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos She didn't disappoint. 'Just got to play, hopefully get there,' she said. Williams' preparation for the year's final major was not ideal, having played just three matches on US hard courts and having to postpone her pre-tournament press conference in New York by a day because she wasn't feeling well.

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