When 44-year-old Serena Williams took the court for warmups at Arthur Ashe stadium on Friday night, the tennis legend stepped out in a custom Nike jacket that reminded fans just how dominant she’s been at the US Open through the decades.
The piece had several eye-catching details: the jacket’s arms featured all the years she’s won a single or doubles title at the U.S. Open; a big “Williams” splashed was across the back; and an oversized Swoosh was displayed the front.
Williams’ first-ever championship was in mixed doubles back in 1998. From there, she won six singles titles (Williams is tied with Chris Evert for the most ever) and doubles championships with her sister, Venus, in 1999 and 2009.
On Friday night, Serena reunited with Venus, 46, for the second time this season to play doubles against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in front a packed crowd that was eager to cheer on the sisters during prime time at the Open. “Welcome to the Williams Show,” read one sign from a fan.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams returned to the US Open on Friday night.
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Serena, one of the Swoosh’s longtime athletes, wore a custom NIke kit with Nike Air Zoom Vapor X tennis shoes, while Venus was head to toe in Lacoste, her sponsor of over four years.
Both sisters had previously made appearances at the tournament during the past week. Venus lost in the first round of women’s singles after she began her match after midnight Monday. Last week, Serena joined fellow athlete Carlos Alcaraz for a lively mixed doubles match.
Since breaking into the professional tennis world in the 1990s, the sisters have won 22 career WTA doubles titles together, and 14 Grand Slam doubles title. They also took home three Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012.
Serena and Venus Williams through the years.
Left: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
Middle: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Right: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images