So tennis whites can be a bit dull. And sports wear is not the most sexy attire around.

And Venus Williams was playing in the French Open in Paris... which might go some way to explain her bizarre choice of outfit in her first match of the tournament.

The 29-year-old player looked as if she had borrowed a negligee from a burlesque troop at the Moulin Rouge.

Burlesque tennis: Venus Williams plays a return to Patty Schnyder and shows her flesh-coloured underwear under her short corset outfit

Looking as if she was about to burst into the can-can at any moment, Venus exhibited her normal flair on the court - athletically reaching for shots and slamming balls past her opponent Patty Schnyder of Swtizerland.

But the lacy, tutu-type attire kept bunching up to reveal her skintight flesh-coloured knickers.

It gave onlookers more than an eyeful of her shapely derriere.

Mais non! The player ignored traditional tennis whites - and even polo shirts or sports tops during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris

Venus is becoming renowned for her on-court dress, which she wears to give publicity to her personal clothing line.

The star said she was wanted to create an 'illusion' - she's actually created a bit of a furore.

Last month she wore a similar outfit - a red dress with black trim, minus the lace - at the Madrid Open.

But it's unlikely her colourful outfits will go down well at the All-England tennis club.

Players are expected to wear classic white at Wimbledon.

Balletic: Venus stretches for a shot and her dress fans out

While all talk was of her outfit, rather than her skill, Venus is currently ranked No.2 in the world.

She has never won the women's singles titles on clay and has only made one appearance in the French Open final - which is perhaps why she chose style over comfortable sportswear in the first round.

She did go on to win the first-round match against to Switzerland's Patty Schnyder, 6-3, 6-3

Playing the game: Venus leaps in her negligee but Patty Schnyder looks cool and collected in her sports gear