This Look Serena Williams Wore in 2004 Is Going Viral Because People Finally Understand How Iconic It Was
Serena Williams has always been that girl, but for whatever reason some people are just now realizing it. TikTok has resurfaced photos and videos from Williams’ appearance at the 2004 Us Open, you know the one where she wore a pleated denim miniskirt from Nike with a studded black tank top. She paired the outfit with a matching sweatband, sparkly hoop earrings, and a heart-pendant necklace. “THE LEGEND. THE ICON,” one fan gushed as others praised Williams for being ahead of her time. Despite being from decades ago, fans are enamored with the look (rightfully so), sharing edits, video compilations, and think pieces about why it’s so iconic.
Of course, they’re not wrong. Williams’ look was a dramatic and refreshing switch up from the traditional tennis match look. Athletes usually took the court in sweat-wicking nylon looks that were usually white or light in color. Williams opened up about the ensemble, calling it her “favorite” during a July 2024 episode of Hot Ones. “One of the most iconic moments in tennis for me was when Andre Agassi wore jean shorts. I was like, ‘How do we do that?'” Williams said, sharing the inspiration behind her getup. “I said, ‘It could be jean, I’ll wear jeans on the court.’ And [Nike] was like, ‘No, we’re gonna make it a fabric that actually works.’ And so that was a modern version of what Andre actually did. It was literally one of my favorite outfits ever.”
Williams went on to have a number of other memorable tennis outfits, namely the black catsuit from the 2018 French Open. While Williams told reporters that she felt like a “warrior” in the one-piece and wore it because she was suffering from blood clots and needed to keep “the blood circulation going,” the French Tennis Federation was not happy. They banned the catsuit from future matches, sparking months-long controversy. While they’ve yet to reverse the ban, Williams’ catsuit remains legendary—much like her career.
