Serena Williams never shies away from fashion-forward tennis gear, and her latest on-court ensemble may be her most striking yet. The 39-year-old champion showed off her wild fashion sense on Monday, hitting the court at the Australian Open in a one-legged, multi-coloured catsuit.

Serena powered through her first match in the Nike ensemble, beating German tennis player Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1.

And it didn’t take long before the former world number one’s outfit caused a stir on social media, with Twitter user @DMV_VC saying: “[Serena’s] outfits never disappoint.” And @jadenkenny tweeted: “You go girl!!!”

Meanwhile, @dboles_ said: “I know the Super Bowl is on but Queen Serena is currently wearing a one-legged catsuit at the Australian Open and it deserves some attention.”

And @tumcarayol tweeted: “Serena Williams just casually unveiled a one-legged catsuit.”

However, not everyone was a fan of the colourful ensemble with @LawDawg_007 writing: “[It’s] a no for me… looks dated to me, very 80s.” And @cherylwoodward added: “She looks amazing, but I am a fan of less is more when it comes to fashion. I prefer her sister’s taste in apparel!”

Serena has faced challenges over her on-court outfits in the past, most notably for her black catsuit worn at the 2018 French Open. The risqué outfit sparked a furore within the tennis community and led to players being banned from wearing such outfits in future, as it is deemed not conservative enough for the tournament. The 23-time grand slam winner spoke out following the announcement, claiming it was designed to help prevent blood clots, a risk she suffered from following the birth of her daughter Olympia in 2017.

The following year at the Australian Open the tennis star stepped it up a notch, opting for a skin-tight green body suit and fishnet stockings.