Top Fashion Moments of 2022: When Serena Williams twirled away in a diamond-encrusted dress

FLASHBACK: Tennis Channel Live discusses Serena Williams' final match of her illustrious career.

When Serena Williams walked onto Arthur Ashe Stadium for what might have been the final match of her professional career, she did so wearing a custom look that glittered as brightly as her trophy cabinet.

The then-40-year-old’s retirement announcement triggered weeks of media build-up, social media coverage and worldwide attention. But when Serena finally made her US Open return, the moment didn’t disappoint.

Serena made an inspiring run to the third round, all the while rocking an all-black, diamond-encrusted custom Nike dress, jacket and shoes fit for a queen.

The Look

Serena took a hands-on approach to the design process, and the result was an outfit packed with both symbolism and style.

The dress featured a unique silhouette borrowed from figure skating competition apparel, with the bodice incorporating crystals in the shape of stars—a reference to the night sky of the tournament’s famous evening sessions.

Serena, who played under the lights in each of her matches, also wore a six-layer tutu-style skirt, one layer for each of her previous US Open titles (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014)—though once the competition started, function quickly took priority.

“I had six layers to represent the six wins, but I took four out because it was too heavy,” Serena told Gayle King after her first-round match.

To complete the outfit, the American stepped out in a removable cape, matching warm-up jacket and custom NikeCourt Flare 2 shoes. Her solid gold shoelace tags alone featured 400 hand-set diamonds, and a diamond-laden “Swoosh” logo.

The Lore

Serena—who had lost in straight sets to defending champ Emma Raducanu a week earlier in Cincinnati—defied the odds by winning back-to-back singles matches at the US Open, going all the way to the third round in just her second Grand Slam tournament of the year.

But the most memorable moment by far happened in between the points, when daughter Olympia was seen in Serena’s player box wearing a matching version of her mom’s dress.

The adorable five-year-old even rocked braids accessorized with white beads—inspired by a young Serena’s signature hairstyle during her early days.

Each night of Serena’s run was a sell-out affair in Flushing Meadows, highlighted by a three-set stunner over world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the second round. She was ultimately halted by Ajla Tomljanovic in the next match, officially beginning her “evolution” away from the sport.

Serena doesn’t use the word “retirement”—despite her name being off the WTA rankings and the tour’s site listing her as a “retired” player, the former world No. 1 continues to tease a possible comeback to tennis.

But while she might indeed pop back up at another tournament at some point in the future, Serena’s glittering farewell outfit has already earned its spot in the annals of tennis fashion history.