Serena Williams wore a stunning custom outfit packed with meaning to the US Open — here are all the details you may have missed
- Serena Williams wore a dazzling ensemble for her first-round match at the 2022 US Open.
- The tennis legend designed the diamond-encrusted, gold-laced outfit with Nike and her jewelry brand.
NEW YORK — Serena Williams' first-round match at the 2022 US Open — likely the final Grand Slam appearance of her career — was dazzling in more ways than one.
And fittingly, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was wearing an outfit encrusted with diamonds, laced with gold, and embedded with symbols worth more than any gem or precious metal.
Designed in consultation with tennis' greatest-ever star herself, Williams' glamorous outfit from Nike paid homage to the bright lights of Flushing Meadows, as well as her own successes at her home Grand Slam. The black bodice was embedded with shimmering silver and gold crystals, while her skirt consisted of six layers to represent each singles title she's won at the Grand Slam.
But during an on-court interview following her stunning 6-3, 6-3 victory, Williams admitted that she "took four out" of the skirt "because it was too heavy" to compete with all six layers.
She also sported a glistening black headband and sparkling specks in her hair, and arrived on the court with a matching jacket and tote.
Williams' shoes were a spectacle in their own right. The black NikeCourt Flare 2s — a Williams player exclusive — featured a Nike Swoosh embedded with diamonds and her initials written in gold on both the tongue and inner-facing side of the shoes.
And, in tandem with Williams' jewelry line — Serena Williams Jewelry — the custom kicks featured a gold charm on the laces, featuring 400 hand-laid diamonds spelling out the word "Queen."
But perhaps most meaningful touches weren't found on what Williams wore, but what her daughter, Olympia, sported for her mom's big night. The 5-year-old was wearing a sparkling black Nike figure-skating dress that matched her moms, and her hair was fixed into braids with white beads and the ends.
Williams wore her hair in a nearly-identical style when she won her first Grand Slam — the 1999 US Open — 23 years ago.
"It was either her wear beads or me — I wanted to do it, but I just didn't have the time," Williams said of her daughter's hair during her post-match press conference. "Actually, she asks to wear beads a lot. It actually wasn't my idea, but I was so happy when she had 'em on. It's perfect on her."
Williams and her daughter will dazzle again at Arthur Ashe on Wednesday night, as the superstar takes on World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the tournament. And given the incredible outpouring of support Williams received Monday night — culminating in an attendance record at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center — it's safe to say the world will be watching to see how it all unfolds.