Last night in Flushing Meadows, NY at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Serena Williams kicked off her final U.S. Open. For the momentous occasion, the 23-time Grand Slam winner wore a custom black Nike dress inspired by figure skating apparel and bedazzled in rhinestones. She paired her outfit with a matching headband and a slicked-back ponytail with matching diamonds throughout her full pony.
The dress, which was designed by Williams herself in collaboration with Nike, was made of 6 layers to honor her 6 past titles at Flushing. Williams’ NikeCourt Flare 2 shoes include a diamond-encrusted Swoosh and solid gold lace deubrés with 400 hand-set diamonds, according to an official Nike press release.
Her husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughter Olympia, whose full name is Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., attended the event and sat in the bleachers overlooking the court. Fans were quick to notice that Olympia wore a matching outfit to her mom’s – a crystal dress with a black long-sleeve shirt – as she snapped photographs using a disposable camera.
The 4-year-old paid a tribute to her 40-year-old mother through her outfit but also with her Fulani braided hairstyle. Olympia wore her hair in braids adorned with white beads, in a style reminiscent of when Williams stepped foot onto the court for her first-ever U.S. Open. As Williams’ career fades to black, she starts off her US Open 2022 run strong with defeating Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic, 6-3, 6-3.
In 1999, Williams won her first grand slam title at just 17-years-old, as reported by PopSugar. She wore braids covered in pink and white beads – one of the tennis champion’s most recognizable on-court beauty looks.
Serena Williams twinning with her daughter is a full circle moment nearing the end of her 27-year-long career. The champion announced she is retiring from tennis in an essay published in Vogue. “I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst,” she wrote. “But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words. You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies. I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you.”
Take a look at the official photos from the U.S. Open 2022 in Flushing Meadows, NY as Serena Williams defeats Danka Kovinic in her matching outfits with young Olympia.
Photo Credit: NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Serena Williams of USA celebrates her first round victory during day 1 of the US Open 2022, 4th Grand Slam event of the season at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2022 in Queens, New York City. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
About Kyra: Kyra Alessandrini is a news writer at Girls United and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in publications such as Time, The Hollywood Reporter, InStyle, and Elle. Born in New York and raised in Paris, France, she is passionate about culture, street photography, and travel.