French Open to ban Serena’s ‘Black Panther’ catsuit

PARIS: Serena Williams will be banned from wearing her ‘Black Panther’ catsuit again at the French Open after Roland Garros chiefs described the outfit as “going too far”. The 36-year-old American star stunned Paris this year in her body-hugging outfit which she said was inspired by the ‘Black Panther’ movie and made her feel like a ‘warrior princess’. As well as describing it as “fun and functional”, Williams insisted it helped her prevent a return of the blood clots which put her life in danger after giving birth last year. However, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) insists that the outfit or anything similarly eye-catching will not be welcome at Roland Garros in 2019. “I really believe that sometimes we have gone too far,” FFT President Bernard Giudicelli told Tennis Magazine in remarks reported by French media. “The outfit of Serena this year, for example, will no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place. Everyone wants to enjoy the showcase.” Meanwhile in WinstonSalem, Steve Johnson will try to become the first ATP player this season to win a title on three different surfaces after reaching the final of the Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament on Friday. The American posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to punch his ticket to the hardcourt final where he will face Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Johnson, 28, won the US Men’s Clay Court Championship title in Houston in April and the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on grass in Rhode Island in July. — AFP