FABIO FOGNINI continued the superhero theme of this year’s French Open as his outfit in the second round appeared to be inspired by comic book character Flash.
Fognini, 31, beat Swedish 22-year-old Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 and will face British number one and 16th seed Kyle Edmund who beat Hungarian Marton Fuscovics.
His choice of outfit followed on from Serena Williams who earlier this week made a successful return to Grand Slam tennis following the birth of her daughter in September whilst wearing an eye-catching bodysuit.
Williams explained the suit was inspired by Marvel movie Black Panther.
She said: “I call it like my Wakanda-inspired cat suit. It’s really fun,” referring to the fictional African nation which is featured in the blockbuster.
“I feel like a warrior princess. I always wanted to be a super hero.”
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Williams also said the outfit had practical purposes with blood circulation and that it is a symbol of defiance for women.
She added: “It feels like this suit represents all the women that have been through a lot mentally, physically with their body to come back and have confidence and to believe in themselves.
“I definitely feel like it is an opportunity for me to inspire a whole different group of amazing women and kids. It just kind of expands that, and I really, really embrace it.”
The Flash, whose real name is Bartholomew Henry Allen, first appeared in October 1956 as a reinvention of the previous Flash created by DC Comics in January 1940.
Barry Allen’s main attribute is superhuman speed and wears a red costume which resists friction and wind.
And it was superhuman speed that Fognini possessed as he dispatched of his Swedish opponent, who reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time at Roland Garros, in just 117 minutes.
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