Venus' dress the talk of Paris

After the American's second-round victory at the French Open on Wednesday, reporters were as interested in her fashion statement as her play. An initial query about her opponent was followed by eight consecutive questions related to what she wore on court.

Williams said the corset-like outfit's overlay and skin-toned undergarments are "about the illusion of bareness."

She also said: "The illusion of just having bare skin is definitely for me a lot more beautiful."

Williams wore the same dress during her first-round victory on Sunday.

"It gives the illusion that she's naked (underneath), but she isn't," French Tennis Federation spokesperson Christophe Proust said on Wednesday.

"Maybe some people didn't like it, but from what I know there was no angry reaction from the organisers or French federation officials."