Naomi Osaka Refuses to Let Go of Beloved Nike Invention as She Lands in Beijing to Test Her Fate in Asian Swing

“Athlete. Mother. Creator”- three words that precisely describe Naomi Osaka. After her defeat against Karolina Muchova at the US Open’s second round, the Japanese WTA pro wasn’t a part of the line-up in Seoul. However, now she is looking forward to make her mark at the China Open. And what better than starting off in confidence with her Nike outfit?

A while ago, Naomi Osaka shared an Instagram story in which she was seen flaunting her adorable jacket from the house of Nike. Along with her headphones on, the WTA star seemed to be obsessed with the look and feel of her latest outfit. “Oh Nothing, just me and the sickest jacket Nike has ever made,” she captioned her post, describing the active feeling of having the quirky jacket on.

The obsession with this jacket wasn’t something that could easily go off. Another story followed on her Instagram profile that featured a closer look at her Nike Jacket. “Prepare to be sick of me in this jacket cause it’s never coming off,” she wrote, giving her followers a clear message of appearing in the same outfit quite often from now onwards. This update made way on social media amid her preparations for the Asian swing.

A while after posting on social media, Osaka arrived in Beijing, China with her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Point to note: in the same brown Nike jacket. While her outfit surely turned heads at the airport, it was her rumored association with Mouratoglou that apparently turned into a fact. For the unversed, Osaka split with her former coach, Wim Fissette, on this past Friday. She made the announcement on IG, writing “4 years, 2 Slams, and a whole lot of memories.” 

Fans were quick to notice the similarities between Naomi Osaka’s new Nike jacket and her iconic U.S. Open outfit. The neon colored outfit, that had a big bow at its back, has its own story to be narrated.

Big bow, bigger presence? Naomi Osaka reveals the inspiration behind her US Open outfit

Naomi Osaka has turned heads at the U.S. Open sporting a green competition dress and white jacket, complete with matching sneakers, a bow detail, and Bose headphones. Osaka’s eye-catching outfit is a joint effort by Nike and renowned Japanese designer Yoon Ahn. The tennis star revealed the inspiration behind her cheerful look in an interview with the New York Times.

The inspiration behind these outfits came from Osaka’s connection to her Japanese roots. “The inspiration for me was definitely Japanese, like Harajuku,” Osaka explained, referring to the vibrant fashion district in Shibuya, Tokyo. She remembered her first visit to Japan, where she noticed “so many frills and so many bows,” which clearly influenced the playful and bold design of her new attire.

Osaka also said that she believes that the eye-catching design could give her a stronger presence on the court. “Especially with this outfit. It’s so big, maybe it’ll create a bigger presence,” she added. The oversized bows and detailed touches not only highlighted her cultural heritage but also bring an extra flair to her return along with making it more memorable.