Nike learned from their pregnancy mistake, says Serena Williams

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Serena Williams admitted the "mother, champion, queen, goddess" logo which adorned her Roland Garros outfit on Monday was "a lot to carry, but so is being Serena."

The 37-year-old American survived a first-set scare before defeating Russia's Vitalia Diatchenko 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 to reach the second round.

Meanwhile, Serena backed her sponsor Nike after controversy over the sporting goods giant's maternity policy, saying that "it's about learning from mistakes."

The 23-time Grand Slam champion has been the face of a Nike advertising campaign telling women to "dream crazier."

The company has reportedly said it will change its policy of cutting female athletes' pay during and after pregnancy, after being widely criticized, including by American track and field star Allyson Felix.

"I'm glad that statement was made, and I know that herefore and going forward, they're doing better," Williams said after her French Open first-round win over Russian Vitalia Diatchenko in Paris.

"That's what it's about. It's about learning from mistakes and doing better."

According to the New York Times, Nike plans to waive performance-pay reductions for 12 months for athletes who decide to have a baby.

The New York Times reported that Williams' contract had been kept intact when she was pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia, while other women saw their pay cut in similar situations.

But the 37-year-old Williams said that it was understandable it took Nike time to embrace change.

"I feel like as time goes on, as technology changes and as, you know, the world changes, people realize that we have to change our policies," she said.

"And I think that Nike wanted to do that, and they started doing that. And so I think they made a really bold statement by doing that with me, and I think they're going to – I know, actually, that they're going to continue to make that statement."

Williams won her most recent major at the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant.

Serena Williams of the United States in action against Carina Witthoeft of Germany while wearing a tennis outfit designed by Virgil Abloh, in conjunction with Nike, in the second round of the U.S. Open, August 28, 2018. /VCG Pho

She returned to Grand Slam tennis after giving birth to her daughter at Roland Garros in 2018, making the last 16 where she had been set to resume her bitter rivalry with Maria Sharapova.

Last year, Williams fell foul of Roland Garros with her one-piece Black Panther outfit which was subsequently banned. An arm injury torpedoed that meeting and stalled her assault on the fourth title in Paris.

"It was just to remind everyone that they can be champions and are queens. So I love that about it," she said of her 2019 dress and cape.

"Yeah. It is a lot to carry, but so is being Serena Williams."

The American, who is attempting to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, racked up her 800th career main draw win with her victory in front of a half-full Court Philippe Chatrier.

After dropping the first set, she was in danger of suffering just the second opening round defeat of her Grand Slam tournament career.

But normal service was quickly resumed as she racked up 12 of the last 13 games.

"You know, I have been dealing with a lot, and then I just got nervous out there and I stopped moving my feet.

"There were like concrete blocks on my feet. I was, like, 'You gotta do something'."

Williams, 2002, 2013 and 2015 champion in Paris, will face either Japan's Kurumi Nara or Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia for a place in the last 32 after their match was suspended at one-set-all overnight.

Source(s): AFP