Who wears skin-colored shorts under a tennis skirt that's likely blow in the air as she serves up 100+ mph tennis balls? Queen of the courts Venus Williams! Now if you think this photo's bad, check out what the Associated Press has floating around on its wires.
In his essay on The Root about the diss of the Williams sisters in early 2009, writer Jewel Woods writes: "After more than a decade of dominance in the world of tennis, the Williams sisters still have not managed to raise everyone’s consciousness about what it means to be beautiful."
Suggested Reading
They've come a long way since 1999, when two black teenagers from California caused a stir on professional tennis courts with their backhands and their braided, beaded hairstyles.
Even these FAO Schwartz dolls, introduced just before the 2000 U.S. Open, did not do justice to the curvaceous Williams sisters. Whoever shelled out $19.99 for these dolls really got robbed.
Wimbledon: Take that, take that, take that! Serena during the women's first round of the All England Lawn Tennis Championship, London in 2001.
The most thrilling thing about watching the Williams sisters in action, in addition to slaughtering their opponents, is just how boldly they flout the all-white dress conventions of the tennis club world. Here's a 2005 shot of Serena Williams warming up during the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.
In 2007, Serena was not about to let a high-stakes Australian Open final mess up her accessories game.
Serena in her big blonde phase. Well, they can't all be winners…
Serena uses her sculpted biceps to lift up her 2008 Sony Ericsson Trophy.
The sisters show some leg on the front row of a recent Zac Posen fashion show.
Serena, covered in animal print, strikes a sexy pose for the cameras at Elton John's Oscar event.
Serena shows some skin in a short, firey red dress.
Serena loves to surprise people with her tennis outfits. And playing tennis in skin-tight booty shorts is sure to do the trick. No wonder Jamie Foxx wishes he could be her tennis ball…
Serena may not have the typical backside of a tennis player, but she doesn't try to hid it.
Serena poses in a body huggin' red dress with one of her new prizes.
Serena's curvy silhouette may be an unusual attribute in the tennis community. But we're sure that most people wouldn't mind watching her serve.
At a Zac Posen show, the younger Williams sister dresses up her controversial cleavage with a dangling necklace.
Big wins call for big hair. At a fashion show, Venus lets her curly, black locs fall around her face.
Venus doesn't have the same curvaceous bod as her sister, but she still knows how to rock her athletic physique.
A leggy Venus rocks a short, sexy dress at a 2004 Fashion Rocks event.
Venus sports a sparkly V-neck ensemble while presenting an award at the 2008 Espys.
With short hair and a long dress, Venus shines at a 2008 Metropolitan Museum of Art event.
Venus is a vision as she glides down a runway in The Heart Truth Red Dress show in 2005.
Venus grins from ear to ear as she holds her 2007 Wimbledon prize, reminding us all why they call her BIG sis'!
Venus and Serena Williams celebrate gold after their victory in the women's doubles tennis final at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Serena's big sister shows off her grown-up style on David Letterman in the summer of 2007.
Venus Williams displays a dress from her sister's 'Aneres' collection during a charity fashion show in 2003.
'Nuff said.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.