Celebrity

The Perfect Reactions to Serena Williams’ Post-Pregnancy Blood Clot Compression French Open CatSuit Ban

Posted on August 25, 2018

The outfit Tennis champ Serena Williams wore to compete in the 2018 French Open last May triggered the competition to ban her from donning that “Wakanda”-inspired black super hero cat suit for future competitions.

“I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena’s outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted,” French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said in an interview with Tennis Magazine, adding it won’t adapt as strict a clothing code as Wimbledon, which requires players to wear all white, but will have its limits. He added that the FFT will be looking to view collections ahead of next year’s tournament.

The 23-time Grand Slam champ designed the suit with her sponsors at Nike with special compression material and technology to aid with blood clots she has and developed dangerously after delivering her first child, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. with her husband Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

“I feel like a warrior in it, like a warrior princess,” Williams said during a press conference, adding that she felt like a queen from Wakanda, the fictional nation in the movie “Black Panther.”

“I’ve always wanted to be a superhero,” Williams said. “It’s kind of my way of being a superhero.”

Besides making her feel amazing, Williams’ said the outfit choice was also meant to inspire other new moms, especially ones who have also suffered post-pregnancy health issues. “For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy — here you go. If I can do it, so can you!” she wrote on Instagram at the time. She had been in bed for weeks after delivering because of the clots.

“I’ve been wearing pants in general a lot when I play so I can keep the blood circulation going,” Williams told reporters. “So it’s a fun suit but it’s also functional, so I can be able to play without any problems.”

This is yet another bump in her road after motherhood. Not only did she lose her rank when she had a baby last September, but she also suffered postpartum blood clot related near-death experience, postpartum blues too.

Nike had the perfect response to the catsuit ban:

“You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers.

I loved April on Twitter’s response which was supported by another Tennis Legend, Chris Evert!

And others not so subtdly pointed out that Serena was not the first to wear a catsuit though the first to be banned for it.

What was once a scandalous outfit is now, if not de rigueur, simply no big deal, thanks to fashion taste makers like Serena Williams. Well done @serenawilliams for your fashion tribute to Anne White and her 1985 Wimbledon outfit. pic.twitter.com/FCGONKXLA1
— Alexis Shabadoo Jr. (@JDGoodness) May 29, 2018

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BumpNews

Serena Williams Says She Won’t Defend her Australian Open Title This Year

Posted on January 5, 2018

Serena Williams famously won the 2017 Australian Open while she was 9 weeks pregnant but on Thursday, the 23-tim Grand Slam champ said she won’t be defending her Australian Open title this year.

It has only been 5 months since she gave birth to her first child, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. The newly wed to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian turned Snaphcat to share the news, stating in part:

“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time. With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again. I appreciate the support and understanding of my fans and everyone at the Australian Open.”

The tennis tournament begins on the 15th of this month.

The Australian Open tweeted best wishes shortly after her announcement, saying in part: “Good luck for the rest of 2018, Serena! We’ll miss you”

Unfortunately @serenawilliams has withdrawn from the #AusOpen.
“I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.”
Good luck for the rest of 2018, Serena! We’ll miss you ?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 5, 2018

Williams had tried to push it by registering for a tournament last month but didn’t make it out the first round. She lost to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

“I don’t think I am going to rate my performance,” Williams said. “I have plenty of comebacks, from injuries, from surgeries, but I’ve never had a comeback after actually giving birth to a human being. So, in my eyes, I feel it was a wonderful, wonderful match for me.”

Williams struggled with her serve and Ostapenko won 6-2, 3-6 and then 10-5 in a super tiebreaker, but as US Open opined, she “still impressed to take a set off the No. 7-ranked Ostapenko after nearly a year away from tennis.”

She can do it and there is a track record for it!

The legendary Margaret Court won three majors after giving birth to her son in 1972. Kim Clijsters won three of her 4 Grand Slams after the birth of her child. Lindsay Davenport won 3 of her 55 Career titles after giving birth to her son. There are at least three other major female players to make mommy comebacks and silence all the critics and naysayers!

Too soon, ma, too soon!

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BumpNews

Australian Open champ Li Na and coach hubby expecting first child

Posted on January 20, 2015

Congratulations to the reigning, but retired, Australian Open champion Li Na who announced to a crowd of 15,000 in Melbourne, Australian yesterday that she is expecting her first child. During a ceremony to commemorate the launch of a tournament at the Rod Laver Arena, Li announced, “[Husband and coach] Dennis [Jiang] and I are so excited. Our first child will arrive in the summer,” Li told the crowd to raucous applause and cheers. It was right before Roger Federer played a night match.Shortly after wining her first Australian Open last year, the Chinese Tennis star retired. Previously, she had won the 2011 French Open and was a finalist in Australia in 2011 and 2013.

After the ceremony, Li posted a super sweet message on Facebook to her fans. We’ve covered tennis champs Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters and Lindsay Davenport before and are pleased to welcome Li to bumpwatch!

I watched Na play at the US Open last year. I was rooting for her to win back in 2011 when she played the Australian Open so long a fan. What a power player and soon to be a power mom!

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