Naomi Osaka Is Bridging the Gap Between Court and Street Style

It's the end of August in New York City, which can only mean one thing: The US Open has completely taken over. This year especially, it feels like all anyone's talking about or actually doing is attending the renowned tennis tournament located in Flushing, Queens, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It's the hottest ticket of the summer, and if you're lucky and get to go, there's a chance you'll also bear witness to one of tennis's biggest and best dressed stars, Naomi Osaka, playing on the stadium's hard courts. Osaka is a top draw of the tournament because she's a two-time champion of the US Open—she won it in 2018 and 2020—and her court style never disappoints.

As an ambassador for Nike and Tag Heuer, the 26-year-old sensation is always outfitted in the very best match-day 'fits, specifically when she plays at the US Open. She told Who What Wear it is her favorite slam to dress for. We caught up with the four-time Grand Slam winner ahead of the tournament at Tag Heuer's Fifth Avenue flagship store to talk all about her signature court style, what makes the US Open special, what watch she'll be playing in, and more. Read all about it below.

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What makes the US Open special for you compared to other Grand Slam tournaments?

I grew up here until I was 9, so I have a lot of memories of coming to the tournament. It was also the first Grand Slam that I won, so just a lot of really good memories.

Which slam is the most fun to dress for?

The US Open. I think Nike always lets me do something cool during the US Open, and I just have memories of watching players, specifically Serena [Williams] taking her jacket off and [revealing] something incredible underneath.

As we approach the US Open, what can you tell me about the looks you're planning to wear this year?

I can say that it's going to be one of my favorite outfits I've ever worn, if not my favorite. The process of creating the outfit was really fun.

How involved are you in that process?

I'm actually very involved. I love being able to get creative, see everything that goes on, and pick fabrics and pick colors.

You've had some pretty incredible court looks through the years, from the custom Sacai x Nike look from the 2019 US Open to this year's ruffled Nike set for Wimbledon. What do you love about combining your craft on the court with your interest in fashion?

I love the fact that nothing feels limited—it almost feels like anything is possible. … With sport, it should feel like anything is possible. Exploring the boundaries and pushing them, for me, is always one of my biggest goals.

Walk me through some of your favorite fashion moments from on the court.

People don't really talk about it, but the 2021 Australian Open was my first time wearing a jumpsuit and then a skirt over it, and it was a funky army print that was [all] different colors. I had a lot of fun wearing that one. The [custom Nike x Sacai] outfit is going to go down in my hall of fame of favorite outfits. And then actually a US Open outfit from the last time I played here. It was lavender purple, and I thought it was really beautiful.

What watch will you be wearing during the US Open?

I'll be wearing this beautiful watch, a TAG Heuer Aquaracer. I love the color combination—I think it's really beautiful, and it fits the US Open because it'll shine brightly.

When you're thinking about which watch you want to wear during play, what style and design aspects do you consider?

For me, what is important is that it looks good, which TAG Heuer has always done a really amazing job with.

How do you style your TAG Heuer watch in your daily life?

They're so versatile, and I've also collected a lot of them. It just feels like a staple—I don't know how to describe it. I put on contacts every day, and I put on a TAG watch every day. For me, I love picking out the color and [figuring] out how it fits within my outfit.

Do you match your watch to your outfit or prefer it to stand out on its own?

Most of the time, I like it to stand out by itself. It's an extension of the outfit and deserves its own limelight.

Who's influencing your style right now in tennis or out of it?

I'm always gonna say Rihanna, but actually, I think [Yoon Ahn, the creative director of] Ambush. She has an incredible wardrobe, and sometimes, I just look at her Instagram photos and think, "Wow." She definitely has one of the best closets in the world. On the court, obviously, I really love Serena and Venus [Williams].

At this current point in your life, how would you describe your personal style journey and where you're at with your relationship with fashion?

My personal style journey has been a bit of a roller coaster in the way that I'm very experimental. I will go full-on with an idea if I have it. For me, I just always remember going to Japan when I was younger and seeing full-on outfits. Fashion is a bit of a personality thing, and I love that you can express yourself that way. I'm learning a lot more about fashion as I go along.

Finally, court style or street style?

I have a dream to make my court style like street style, so court style.