Serena gets slinky

Serena Williams has made a dramatic return to the tennis court in a stunning new outfit. The 22-year-old surprised the crowds at a tournament in Florida by wearing a white silk ensemble complete with headband showing her name.

The all-white outfit, made out of silk and satin, was completed by a cummerbund which exposed her midriff.

It is a new look for Serena, who has been out of the game for seven months after a knee injury. She shocked tennis traditionalists in an earlier fashion statement when she wore a black body-hugging catsuit at the US Open in 2002.

Talking about her choice of clothes, she said at the time: "It's fun, exciting and very sexy - just like me."

The 5ft 10in multi-millionairess has started her own haute couture business after completing a fashion course and modelling clothes in Sports Illustrated magazine.

On the Florida court Serena - who last year became one of the five women to hold the US Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open simultaneously - convincingly completed a straight-sets victory against Maria Sharapova.

But she may not be appearing at the Olympics this summer. She is among athletes who may boycott the Games because of fears of a terrorist attack.

She said: "I think my security and my safety and my life is a little bit more important than tennis, and so if it became a real concern to where I personally wouldn't feel comfortable, then I wouldn't go to Athens - because I like my life. I like to live; I like waking up in the morning."