Serena Williams has taken tennis fashion to new heights. In New York she wore a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt for her 2018 US Open debut.
Serena Williams has taken tennis fashion to new heights. In New York she wore a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt for her 2018 US Open debut.
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Williams, playing her first home Slam since giving birth to her first child last year, entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a black bomber jacket with white trim.
Williams, playing her first home Slam since giving birth to her first child last year, entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a black bomber jacket with white trim.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Williams turned heads with her striking black catsuit in the first round of the 2018 French Open in Paris -- tournament organizers have since tightened dress codes for next year, meaning the catsuit will be consigned to the closet.
Williams turned heads with her striking black catsuit in the first round of the 2018 French Open in Paris -- tournament organizers have since tightened dress codes for next year, meaning the catsuit will be consigned to the closet.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
The 23-time grand slam champion was playing in her first major since giving birth to her first child in September. "I feel like a warrior princess in it," she told reporters. " I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
The 23-time grand slam champion was playing in her first major since giving birth to her first child in September. "I feel like a warrior princess in it," she told reporters. " I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The 36-year-old American said the skintight suit also served a practical purpose after enduring a difficult childbirth. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots. So there is definitely a little functionality to it," she said.
The 36-year-old American said the skintight suit also served a practical purpose after enduring a difficult childbirth. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots. So there is definitely a little functionality to it," she said.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
Williams sticks with black and pink during the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Williams sticks with black and pink during the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Serena attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
Serena attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Serena enjoyed an astonishing 2015 season -- winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She missed the China Open and WTA finals after revealing she needed time to recover from a grueling year.<br />
Serena enjoyed an astonishing 2015 season -- winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She missed the China Open and WTA finals after revealing she needed time to recover from a grueling year.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images/file
Serena sports a beaded hairstyle as she celebrates her first U.S. Open title -- and her first major -- back in 1999.
At the beginning —
Serena sports a beaded hairstyle as she celebrates her first U.S. Open title -- and her first major -- back in 1999.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final.
Parisian style —
Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Serena blasts down a powerful serve on her way to another victory.
In the pink —
Serena blasts down a powerful serve on her way to another victory.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
In 1999, Williams enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study fashion design. Here, she shows a collection of her designs at the 2012 Australian Open.
Height of fashion —
In 1999, Williams enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study fashion design. Here, she shows a collection of her designs at the 2012 Australian Open.
Getty Images
Williams, the world's No. 1 player, serves during a training session ahead of the 2015 French Open in Paris.
If the cap fits... —
Williams, the world's No. 1 player, serves during a training session ahead of the 2015 French Open in Paris.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Williams celebrated her sixth Wimbledon title in 2015, resplendent in the All England Club's traditional all-white attire. It meant she held all four grand slam titles, going back to the 2014 U.S. Open -- her second "Serena Slam."
Traditional values —
Williams celebrated her sixth Wimbledon title in 2015, resplendent in the All England Club's traditional all-white attire. It meant she held all four grand slam titles, going back to the 2014 U.S. Open -- her second "Serena Slam."
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Serena sported a catsuit when she played Corina Morariu during the 2002 U.S. Open. That title was the third leg of her first non-calendar "Serena Slam," which she completed months later at the 2003 Australian Open.
The cat's whiskers —
Serena sported a catsuit when she played Corina Morariu during the 2002 U.S. Open. That title was the third leg of her first non-calendar "Serena Slam," which she completed months later at the 2003 Australian Open.
Don Emmert/Getty Images/File
Williams waves to the crowd as she enters stadium court before her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania at Indian Wells in 2015.
Making an entrance —
Williams waves to the crowd as she enters stadium court before her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania at Indian Wells in 2015.
Harry How/Getty Images
In a neon yellow outfit, Serena celebrates against Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
Glowing performance —
In a neon yellow outfit, Serena celebrates against Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
Getty Images
Williams looks crestfallen as she reflects on a point that got away.
Blue moment —
Williams looks crestfallen as she reflects on a point that got away.
Will Russell/Getty Images
A more formally-attired Serena celebrates one of her six victories at the U.S. Open.
Suitable occasion —
A more formally-attired Serena celebrates one of her six victories at the U.S. Open.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/File
The Florida resident has triumphed at the US Open in New York six times.
Black and white image —
The Florida resident has triumphed at the US Open in New York six times.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
With her hair -- <a target="_blank">which she once described as "super crazy"</a> -- tied back, Serena blasts a shot in a match against Ana Ivanovic in Cincinnati.
Power play —
With her hair -- which she once described as "super crazy" -- tied back, Serena blasts a shot in a match against Ana Ivanovic in Cincinnati.
Getty Images
Serena serves on a sunny day at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Out of the shadows —
Serena serves on a sunny day at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Williams celebrates after winning the Madrid Open final against Maria Sharapova in 2013.
Up in the air —
Williams celebrates after winning the Madrid Open final against Maria Sharapova in 2013.
JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images
Serena sports a new style at the Australian Open in 2013.
Hair-raising —
Serena sports a new style at the Australian Open in 2013.
Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Serena Williams: Stylish superstar

Story highlights

Serena Williams will miss the season-ending WTA finals in Singapore

World No.1 confirmed she will also miss next week's China Open

Williams has not played since losing in U.S. Open semifinal

Suffered just three defeats in 2015

CNN  — 

She’s dominated women’s tennis, won three out of four of this year’s grand slams and is the undisputed World No.1 – but Serena Williams won’t be winning the year-end WTA finals.

That’s because Williams announced that she is withdrawing from next week’s China Open and the forthcoming event in Singapore in a bid to allow her body to recover from a grueling season.

The 34-year-old hasn’t played since suffering a shock defeat to Roberta Vinci at the semifinal stage of the U.S. Open last month.

“It’s no secret I’ve played injured most of the year – whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart,” Williams told the China Open website.

“I’m a fierce competitor. And I want to compete as well as I can, for as long as I can. So I am taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal.

“This is a very difficult decision but one ultimately made because of the love of the game.

“I plan to return to practicing and participating in exhibition matches later this year. And when I do, l will focus and focus and focus so I can continue my journey in this beautiful game.”

Williams enjoyed a stellar 2015 – winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon to take her grand slam tally to 21.

She lost just three matches out of 56 with the latest of those against Italy’s Vinci.

The U.S. star is just behind Steffi Graf, who holds the record for the most grand slams in the Open era.

Williams, who won the end of season finals in Singapore last year, will now concentrate on recuperating ahead of the new season.

It means that there will be another spot up for grabs with the competition usually including the top eight female players on the planet.