On Monday, Aug. 31, Four Time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka stepped onto the court for her U.S Open debut in a look that was impossible to miss. Draped in tulle and sewn in newspaper clippings highlighting her last victories, with cornrows in her hair and a tribute to former NBA player Allen Iverson, Osaka made sure this opener was unlike the others.
She didn’t save the extravagant outfits for her big day either. Throughout the first 5 days of U.S Open practices, Osaka represented styles that usually aren’t seen in tennis.
On Day 1 of practice, the two time U.S Open champion arrived in an orange strapless dress paired with a statement bag. Day 2 brought a flowy brown dress, oversized gold earrings and butterfly heels. On Day 3 came baggy ripped jeans and boots covered in dollar bill details. Day 4 featured a gown like black dress and a bag with fur detail. By Day 5, Osaka wrapped it up with a flowy teal dress with a red statement bag.
Throughout this all, Osaka kept it consistent with holding her signature tennis racket. This racket, reminding critics that at the end of the day, she was still there to play tennis.
For years, tennis fashion has been associated with clean, and polished looks. Osaka’s looks have challenged that expectation, and brought a sense of difference to a court where traditionality has taken over.
Osaka and her sense of fashion has continued to catch eyes all across platforms; not just those of the tennis community. Photos and videos of her outfits have run across social media, turning her U.S Open debut into a conversation focused on more than just tennis.
Osaka is using the tennis court as another place to let her creativity thrive, and express herself beyond the world of tennis.
