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At the French Open, Williams told reporters that the suit was more than just a fashion statement.

\"I had a lot of problems with my blood clots, and, God, I don’t know how many I have had in the past 12 months. So it is definitely a little functionality to it,\" she said.

\"I have been wearing pants in general a lot when I play, so I can keep the blood circulation going,\" she added. \"It’s a fun suit but it’s also functional, so I can be able to play without any problems.\"

Williams, who just arrived in New York for the U.S. Open, has not yet commented on Giudicelli's remarks. But on social media, \"French Open\" was a trending topic as fans reacted critically to the tournament president's remarks, calling them misogynistic and even racist.

Meanwhile, in today's racism: https://t.co/lSL3k8IRmo

— C. (@chrissymastroo) August 24, 2018

This is wrong on so many levels. How are we still in an era where a man decides what a woman wears to work?

Coz Serena playing tennis is her job. https://t.co/ZQyA26uXVx

— Tobi Oredein (@IamTobiOredein) August 24, 2018

Serena Williams, who wore an outfit specifically designed to help prevent blood clots because she almost *died* after giving birth, won't be able to wear her catsuit again at the French Open because the tournament chief...doesn't like it.

That's literally the only reason. https://t.co/TiLo8JcSJj

— Rafi (@RafiDAngelo) August 24, 2018

This article should read, “@serenawilliams could show up in pajamas with her kid strapped to her back and we’d still be lucky to have her.” What a loser. https://t.co/PPOBaUYXPH

— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) August 24, 2018

Why is Serena’s catsuit all of a sudden a problem now? It has been done before and she’s worn less AT the actual French Open in 2004... pic.twitter.com/pVMXg7GxMi

— Petunia (@stjeantropez) August 24, 2018

During the French Open I saw many White players who were nearly naked, but Bernard Giudicelli decides Serena Williams' catsuit was disrespectful?!?! What would powerful White people do if they didn't spend so much time policing Blackness? He is being disrespectful! pic.twitter.com/dHRBo5vShA

— I Block Bigots (@Fiorentina5) August 24, 2018
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