Naomi Osaka’s ‘flamboyant’ US Open outfit has been explained after her emotional 6-3 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko at Flushing Meadows.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was seen with a massive bow on her back as well as two smaller green bows on the back of her Nike trainers.
The US Open’s official X account dubbed Osaka the ‘Queen of Fashion’ while one tennis fan posted on social media that the Japanese star looked like Tinker Bell.
Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and 2022 but missed last year’s tournament after giving birth to her daughter, has explained why she chose such a bold outfit.
‘Well, I chose the colour like at least a year ago,’ Osaka said. ‘I definitely love to be involved in everything I do, whether it’s fashion or anything else. But I feel like being able to be a part of my tennis outfits gives me, I would say, a different strength.
‘Especially the US Open outfits, I feel like they are a little bit more flamboyant. When I was putting on my outfit today, I was, like, ah, I hope this isn’t too much!
‘Because I had the tutu and then I had the bow jacket and it was green, I feel like everyone was staring at me funny. And then I put the headphones on, that was a real killer.
‘I was, like, you know what, embrace this maximalist style. And then it made me feel better, another player came up to me and asked to take a picture. I hope it was a positive picture, it wasn’t, like, ‘Oh, my God, look at her.’ Yeah, I think for me when I put on the outfit it’s almost like a super suit, so I try to channel that.’
Osaka needed just 63 minutes to win her blockbuster first-round match against 10th-seed Ostapenko and was left incredibly emotional after the victory.
After covering her face with her towel and crying tears of joy, Osaka added: ‘I feel like I cried a lot more now than I did, like, winning Slams. That’s a little funny!
‘Yeah, I mean, honestly it’s like a combination of a lot of different things. I grew up here, so just seeing kids, and then remembering my daughter, but seeing kids coming and watching me play and just remembering that I was a kid, I guess a long time ago, made me very emotional.
‘Then also just remembering that I came and watched Coco play her semis, and I was in the audience and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play again at this level, and just to play Ostapenko who is such a great player and win that match means a lot to me.
‘Yeah, just seeing the stadium really full, it meant a lot, because I was, like, oh, I hope people come watch me play.’
Osaka has also paid a classy tribute to late basketball legend Kobe Bryant – who died in a tragic helicopter accident in 2020.
‘I always wear Kobe jerseys after matches and practices because I feel a little bit, like, I can kind of keep his spirit with me,’ she said.
MORE : US Open tennis star rejected bouquet of flowers because of ‘Gaylord’ worry
MORE : US Open tennis star ‘hurting a lot’ after collapsing mid-match and being taken away in wheelchair in dramatic scenes
MORE : Nick Kyrgios slams critics after his controversial view on Jannik Sinner treatment
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
