For her first time as a ranked player at the US Open in three years, Naomi Osaka showed up to New York City in style with an outfit that turned plenty of tennis fans’ heads.
Osaka donned a red bejeweled Nike outfit, with hundreds of beads on her top and skirt, akin to what Team USA gymnasts wore on their leotards at last summer’s Paris Olympics.
The Japanese star also had a rose-detailed hair piece. Her tennis bag was completed with a Labubu named Billie Jean Bling, a tribute to arguably the greatest female tennis player of all-time, Billie Jean King.
Billie Jean Bling sparkled in red to match Osaka’s outfit and had its own blue shiny tennis racket.
Osaka said after her straight-set victory over Belgian Greet Minnen at Louis Armstrong Stadium that Nike let her design the outfit.
Her fans were mostly in love with the choices Osaka made for tennis’ final major of the year.
Naomi Osaka shined in a sparkly all-red tennis outfit at the US Open on Tuesday night
Osaka’s monochrome outfit was of her own design, debuting it as the No 23 woman in the draw
‘Bold fashion choices before big moments tell you everything about a competitor’s mindset. Osaka’s walking in with confidence, making a statement before she even steps on the court. That red sequined look isn’t just style – it’s mental warfare,’ one person said on social media.
‘So clean,’ a second person stated.
‘Yeah that’s pretty LIT!’ a third added.
‘That drip is soo blinding,’ a fourth concluded, disagreeing with most of Osaka’s fans.
A collection of social-media messages about Naomi Osaka’s red tennis outfit at the US Open
Osaka will return to action on Thursday, playing against American Hailey Baptiste in her home major.
The 27-year-old is still looking for her first Tour-level tournament victory since 2021, by falling in the Canadian Open to Victoria Mboko.
Some of the form that made Osaka a four-time major-winner was on display in Queens on Tuesday, with a favorable draw ahead.
A possible fourth-round match against American dynamo and world No 3 Coco Gauff would turn plenty of heads in the tennis world, with two wins for each separating that dream showdown.
