Naomi Osaka gave the term “drip” a new meaning when she debuted her fashion kit at the Australian Open against Antonia Ruzic in the first round. The jellyfish-inspired kit had the media world talking, and while there were many people who loved the fit, some were not the biggest fan of the ensemble that Osaka graced the court with.
For those unaware, Naomi Osaka signed a partnership with Nike as the popular brand has sponsored her apparel since 2019. At this year’s Australian Open, Naomi gave the crowd a very unique look during her pre-match walkout. She wore a beautiful multi-colored dress with several hues and mixtures of blue-green with a white bottom. During her entrance to the court, she wore a white extension that made her dress appear even longer. She also wore a white Fedora with a white butterfly on top accompanied by a beautiful white veil that flared down her entire back. She carried a white umbrella as an accessory, complimenting the rest of her appearance while also wearing a pair of teal and white nikes to finish it off.
Many people wrote Naomi’s outfit off as ridiculous and even slightly obnoxious. Some believed that she exhibited an overabundance of drip as some claim that the accessories and veil were entirely too much. Many of these criticisms stem from the often mundane fashion culture of the tennis world. While I won’t say that all tennis kits are dull and underwhelming, I will say that this kind of gear is a pleasant addition to tennis. It’s something new, something—fascinating. It’s not too often that you see a player strutting down the court with their veil blowing in the wind while carrying an umbrella in hand. Some may believe that it looks stupid and tacky but I believe that it looks absolutely iconic.
It wouldn’t be the first time that Naomi captivated fans with her stunning Grand Slam attire. During the first round of the 2025 French Open, Naomi showed off her epic Sailor-Moon inspired gear before her epic three-set battle against Paula Badosa.
I mean, come on…its absolutely breathtaking. Statement freaking made. From the burgundy and pink flailing dress down to the pink flower clips in her hair, this was indeed a fashion success. It symbolized Osaka’s flamboyance escaping through her sense of expression. The way that the burgundy and pink bounce off of each other along with the full coordination brings the entire look together. While Osaka lost the match in three sets, she definitely snatched the attention of the spectators with her long, beautiful hair flowing in the wind and her absolutely brilliant ensemble floating around the court.
Fans complained about this look too, saying that it looked like a hot mess. Many believed that Osaka’s creativity and effort into her gear took away from her efforts on the court. I believe that she looked amazing. There’s nothing wrong with adding a little bit of uniqueness and creativity to doing what you love. Hopefully Osaka’s iconic kits inspire more athletes to expand their fashion horizons and try something new—but for now, we can sit back and admire Osaka’s unique sense of style and fashion as she steps onto the big stage.
