Racy French Open Outfit Distracts from Real Story
Racy French Open Outfit Distracts from Real Story
(May 24) -- Though it's only the first round of the French Open, you would think the press would have offered up better story lines than Venus Williams' new outfit. Not so. From CBS: "U.S. tennis star Venus Williams set tongues wagging in France Sunday when she played in the French Open in Paris in a black corset-style outfit usually found on the dance floor instead of the tennis courts."
By tennis standards, however, the outfit is neither risque or particularly eye-catching, even for Venus. A few months ago, in Australia, she debuted the flesh-colored panties that rounded out the look she sported during Sunday's match. Venus' sister, Serena, favors catsuits. Meanwhile, Bethanie Mattek has drawn attention with her sartorial expressions, without (unlike the Williams sisters) accompanying them with tournament wins. To be sure, when Roger Federer or Raphael Nadal tweak their outfits it also garners press attention. But fashion has not been the talk of the men's portion of the French Open; rather, it's whether Nadal, arguably the best men's clay court player in history, can regain the title from Federer.
It might smack of sexism were it not for two things. One, women players fully embrace their dual role as fashionistas; the Williams sisters each have clothing lines. And two, the women's side of top tournaments is always less upset prone than the men's. As I write, for instance, unseeded Richard Gasquet is leading No. 4 seed Andy Murray in their first-round match. And talk about a compelling storyline: Gasquet, a Frenchman, is returning to the French Open after being suspended after testing positive for cocaine -- a suspension that was cut short after his successful defense that he had imbibed it unknowingly, after kissing a girl at a nightclub.
If there's really something worth noting about Venus Williams, it's not her outfit -- it's her ranking. Long taken a back seat to her sister in recent years -- with the exception of Wimbledon, where Venus thrives -- she's quietly returned to No. 2 in the world, right behind Serena. And while Venus is no fan of clay (she's lost in the third round at her previous three French Opens), she wore her clucked-about get-up while handily dispatching opponent Patty Schnyder, a former top 10 player. Perhaps Williams' tennis resurgence should be what people are talking about.
By tennis standards, however, the outfit is neither risque or particularly eye-catching, even for Venus. A few months ago, in Australia, she debuted the flesh-colored panties that rounded out the look she sported during Sunday's match. Venus' sister, Serena, favors catsuits. Meanwhile, Bethanie Mattek has drawn attention with her sartorial expressions, without (unlike the Williams sisters) accompanying them with tournament wins. To be sure, when Roger Federer or Raphael Nadal tweak their outfits it also garners press attention. But fashion has not been the talk of the men's portion of the French Open; rather, it's whether Nadal, arguably the best men's clay court player in history, can regain the title from Federer.
Laurent Rebours, AP
Venus Williams plays in the French Open on Sunday in an outfit that drew a lot of attention.
It might smack of sexism were it not for two things. One, women players fully embrace their dual role as fashionistas; the Williams sisters each have clothing lines. And two, the women's side of top tournaments is always less upset prone than the men's. As I write, for instance, unseeded Richard Gasquet is leading No. 4 seed Andy Murray in their first-round match. And talk about a compelling storyline: Gasquet, a Frenchman, is returning to the French Open after being suspended after testing positive for cocaine -- a suspension that was cut short after his successful defense that he had imbibed it unknowingly, after kissing a girl at a nightclub.
If there's really something worth noting about Venus Williams, it's not her outfit -- it's her ranking. Long taken a back seat to her sister in recent years -- with the exception of Wimbledon, where Venus thrives -- she's quietly returned to No. 2 in the world, right behind Serena. And while Venus is no fan of clay (she's lost in the third round at her previous three French Opens), she wore her clucked-about get-up while handily dispatching opponent Patty Schnyder, a former top 10 player. Perhaps Williams' tennis resurgence should be what people are talking about.
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