Tennis legend Serena Williams has been honoured with a new Barbie doll that recreates the striking outfit she wore when she stormed to Australian Open glory in 2005. The doll, dressed in lime green and white, captures the sporting superstar at one of the defining moments of her career.
A defining comeback victory
The outfit represents far more than one of Serena's most memorable fashion moments. Serena, now 45, wore it as she staged a remarkable comeback to defeat world No1 Lindsay Davenport in the Australian Open final, recovering from losing the first set to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.
The victory delivered her seventh Grand Slam singles crown and her first since Wimbledon in 2003, following a difficult period disrupted by injury.
Why the look was chosen
Recalling why the look was chosen, Serena said: "That slam meant so much to me. I was able to come back from so many downs, and even in the finals of that match, I was down so much. But I was somehow able to never give up. So when I'm playing with my daughters, I always want [to teach] them to never give up."
The new Barbie Signature doll is the second created in Serena's image this year. In March, Mattel unveiled a one-of-a-kind doll celebrating the tennis great's life as an entrepreneur as part of its "Dream Team" of female trailblazers.
Two sides of Serena
Serena said the pair now represented both her sides. She told TODAY.com: "It's something that was memorable that I can play with with my girls, like the other one. So it's like two sides of me. It's like the business side and the sports side."
Having a Barbie in her likeness is about more than reliving old victories. Serena described rarely seeing girls who looked like her being encouraged to believe their possibilities were limitless. She said: "Growing up, I didn't see many girls who looked like me being told there was no limit to who they could become.
"I want every girl who plays with this doll to see possibility – not just in me, but in herself. She can dream big, work hard, change direction, break barriers, and become anything she chooses."
A remarkable year for Serena
The tribute comes during a remarkable year for Serena, who returned to professional tennis this summer almost four years after she "evolved away" from the sport. She competed in doubles at Queen's Club and Berlin before making an emotional singles return at Wimbledon.
Serena is not the only tennis great to have swapped Centre Court for the toy box. Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty and Australian legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley have all received the Barbie treatment while Serena's big sister Venus has two dolls of her own.
