Serena Williams has never been afraid to make a fashion statement on the court

SERENA Williams has worn some weird and wonderful outfits throughout her illustrious tennis career but her newest look at this year’s French Open might be one of her best. We look back through some of her most iconic looks.

Serena’s French Open look, inspired by the Black Panther, also had a deeper meaning behind it. Picture: Getty

SERENA Williams has worn some weird and wonderful outfits throughout her illustrious career but her newest look at this year’s French Open might be one of her best.

In her first grand slam appearance since giving birth to daughter Olympia last year, the 23-time grand slam champion made a statement in her return to the court.

STATEMENT: INSPIRING REASON BEHIND SERENA’S BLACK CATSUIT

Wearing a black full length catsuit inspired by the Black Panther movie, Serena made a splash.

As soon as her look for the tournament at Roland Garros was unveiled, it drew immediate comparisons to her iconic 2002 US Open kit.

Serena Williams in her black catsuit.

She debuted the look in her first round win over Kristyna Pliskova.

That year, Serena wore another catsuit but this one showed off her arms and her legs. It is still one of the most memorable outfits in tennis fashion.

But while back in 2002 her look might have been all about making a fashion statement, the 2018 version had a much different, and inspirational, meaning.

The 36-year-old has been open and honest about her pregnancy, complications after giving birth and the road back to the court that has involved a huge amount of work to rebuild her body for professional tennis.

The whole of that journey is linked to this French Open look.

“It feels like this suit represents all the women that have been through a lot mentally, physically with their body to come back and have confidence and to believe in themselves,” she said.

Serena’s French Open look, inspired by the Black Panther, also had a deeper meaning behind it. Picture: Getty

“I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids. It just kind of expands that, and I really, really embrace it.”

Serena has long had to put up with constant remarks about her body and the way she looks but she has never let any of that impact her love of self, her purpose, her determination or her self-belief.

And that hasn’t stopped the woman who holds the major grand slam singles title of any player male or female in the Open era making statements on the court.

We take a look back at some of Serena’s most memorable looks.

Serena’s catsuit at the 2002 US Open.

The warm-up biker chic look at the US Open in 2004.

And the on-court version.

She also had a look at the US Open in 2004 for matches played during day sessions.

The on-court day session outfit.

Serena won her first grand slam title in 1999 with a look that featured beads in her hair.

How about the 2015 Australian Open? Serena was best dressed in a fluoro Nike dress. Picture: Mark Stewart

That featured a cut-out back. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Her crop top look at the 2016 Australian Open was a hot topic. Picture: Mark Stewart

Serena doesn’t mind the bright colours. Picture: Mark Stewart

Serena brought in wearing “Wonder Woman” sleeves at the US Open in 2016 in another outfit she described as her “superhero” look.

She also had a day and night version of this.