"Like a superheroine."
That's how American tennis player Serena Williams said she feels thanks to the black lycra bodysuit with a red waistband she wears at the French Open, also known as Roland Garros.
This is the first Grand Slam in which the former world number one has participated since becoming a mother in September of last year.
The younger of the Williams sisters defeated Czech player Kristyna Pliskova 7-6, 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday. But the main intrigue at the press conference after the match had nothing to do with her game, but with her unusual outfit.
"When I wear it, I feel like a warrior, like a queen of Wakanda perhaps," said the 36-year-old player, referring to the box-office success 'Black Panther'.
"I always wanted to be a superheroine, and this is my way of becoming one," she said, adding that the outfit is "comfortable to wear." 
Beyond the jokes, Williams explained the real reason why she has to wear the eccentric bodysuit (despite playing in 25 degrees Celsius in the French capital): the problems she has with blood clots.
"I've had a lot of problems with them; I don't know how many I've had in the last 12 months," she said.
Life-threatening risk
In February, the athlete revealed that a blood clot almost cost her her life during the birth of her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian.
"I'm lucky to have survived:" Serena Williams reveals she came close to death after giving birth to her daughter
Serena Williams: "I'm returning to the courts from my deathbed"
"I'm lucky to have survived," the tennis player wrote in an article published on CNN's website.
Williams had already spoken about her health problems many years before, in 2011, when she had to undergo surgeries to remove blood clots from her lungs.
"I reached the point where I could hardly breathe. Some days I couldn't even get out of bed," she said at the time.
On Tuesday, after her victory, Williams explained that her outfit improves her blood circulation.
"It's a fun outfit but it's also functional and allows me to play without any problems," she said in response to the international press.
Example
Through social media, the player -who was the world number one when she left the courts to become a mother- encouraged other mothers who had difficult births.
"To all those who had a tough recovery after their pregnancy, here I am. If I can do it, you can too. I love you all!" she posted, along with a photo of herself wearing her eye-catching costume.
Despite being ranked 451, many consider Williams -winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, more than any other player- as one of the favorites to win Roland Garros.
After all, no one forgets that her last Grand Slam title was the Australian Open in January 2017, which the tennis player won despite later revealing that she was two months pregnant. (I)
