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topicnews · August 27, 2024

Naomi Osaka’s US Open outfits explained: Why the tennis player is wearing Harajuku-inspired Nike looks for the 2024 tournament

Naomi Osaka’s US Open outfits explained: Why the tennis player is wearing Harajuku-inspired Nike looks for the 2024 tournament

Naomi Osaka is back at the US Open after missing the tournament in 2023 due to the birth of her daughter Shai. The Japanese returned to tennis at the 2024 Brisbane International, but has had minimal success since then and is currently ranked 88th in the WTA rankings.

Nevertheless, she was able to impress in her first-round appearance at the US Open on Tuesday: she won the match and thrilled the spectators with her impressive outfit.

Osaka took to the court in a stunning green and white outfit, unveiling the first of two looks she has planned for this year’s tournament. The complexity of the outfit didn’t stop the former No. 1 from surprising her opponent, and she secured her place in the second round with fashion and flair.

Here’s everything you need to know about Osaka’s US Open outfits, including why the tennis player is wearing custom Harajuku-inspired Nike looks for the 2024 tournament.

MORE: Live tennis scores, full draw, table at Flushing Meadows

Naomi Osaka’s outfits at the US Open at a glance

The four-time Grand Slam champion entered the Louis Armstrong Stadium wearing a white jacket with a huge green bow on the back and a tennis skirt in the same shade of green draped over a white tutu. Before warming up, Osaka took off the tutu, revealing the bottom of her green tennis dress with a ruffled skirt.

Osaka also wore a green visor and white Nike shoes with little green bows on the heels. Even her white headphones had green bows, a nod to the thoughtful details.

Shortly before the match began, she took off her jacket and revealed the rest of the dress with a white bow tied around her waist on the back. Designer Yoon Ahn, co-founder of Tokyo label Ambush, collaborated with Nike on Osaka’s US Open outfits. And apparently no other Nike athlete received custom clothing for this year’s tournament.

In a New York Times article, the tennis player said she told Ahn she was interested in “references to Japanese subculture” in her outfits. Osaka mentioned her inspiration was “Harajuku,” a reference to the culture named after the Tokyo district known for its ruffles and bows.

Osaka said she has “taken more risks with her style on the court” since she started playing. Her green daytime look is paired with a black evening look – a color she says represents “strength,” while green gives her “calm and serenity.” For Osaka, the outfit is more than just the fabric on her skin.

“As far as my confidence goes, I definitely feel more comfortable when I wear an outfit that I think looks good,” she told The New York Times. “I think that’s a magical thing that fashion can do. I think when I put on my US Open outfit, I’ll feel a transformation.”

Naomi Osaka, first round results

Osaka faced No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of this year’s tournament, defeating the Latvian in a clean, hour-long, two-set round in Queens. The win was Osaka’s first top-10 victory in four years and her first US Open win since becoming a mother – an emotional achievement that left her in tears after the match.

Here’s a look at the final score from Tuesday’s early afternoon game.

player Sentence 1 Sentence 2 final
(10) Elena Ostapenko 3 2 0
Naomi Osaka 6 6 2

MORE: Who is the world number 1 in women’s tennis?

Naomi Osaka US Open History

The Japanese-born tennis player has won the American Slam twice in her ten-year career, with 2024 being her ninth appearance in the tournament in 10 years. Osaka emerged victorious in 2018 and 2020, notably defeating Serena Williams in her first US Open victory.

Aside from those two years, she hasn’t performed particularly well at Flushing Meadows. Osaka only made it past the fourth round twice, and both times she won the entire tournament.

Here’s a look at her history so far at the US Open.

Year Result
2015 Eliminated in the third qualifying round
2016 Eliminated in the third round
2017 Eliminated in the third round
2018 Champion (defeated Serena Williams)
2019 Eliminated in the fourth round
2020 Champion (defeated Victoria Azarenka)
2021 Eliminated in the third round
2022 Eliminated in the first round
2023 N/A

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