Naomi Osaka's US Open Court Style Is All About Bows

Naomi Osaka plays her second match at the 2024 us tennis open wearing pearls in her hair and bows on her outfit

(Image credit: Getty Images)

For most of history, professional athletes have dressed for utility over style—fabrics are chosen for their sweat-wicking abilities and silhouettes are chosen for the purpose of aerodynamics and mobility. And while all of this still remains true, in recent years, fashion has taken center stage (or court, more accurately).

Pre-basketball game tunnel walks have become a fashion show and Formula 1 stars are now considered style icons. Tennis, too, has become a sartorial spectacle, with A-list celebs wearing their best "old money" outfits to sit in box seats and star athletes—like Serena Williams, most notably—taking to the court in designed looks, over cookie-cutter workout gear.

This season, one such stand-out is four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Naomi Osaka. Thus far, the athlete has competed twice in the 2024 US Open and both times, her outfits were undeniable serves. For her first match, on Aug. 27, Osaka wore a brat green tennis dress covered in ruffles, a custom-made creation from AMBUSH designer Yoon Ahn.

Naomi Osaka wears a brat green tennis dress with ruffles on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2024 in New York City — Naomi Osaka wears a 'brat' green tennis dress with ruffles on Day 2 of the US Open.

Offering fashion for the sake of fashion, Osaka's first 'fit featured a heavy helping of embellishments, in the form of statement bows: one at the waist, one on her jacket, and one on each sneaker.

For her second appearance, Osaka wore a similar look, this time in all-black. She wore the same ruffled one-piece, paired with a matching noir visor and windbreaker. This look went even heavier on the feminine details, with bows on her outfit and pearls in her braided hair.

Naomi Osaka wears a black nike tennis set with white statement bows — Her black tennis set was covered in white statement bows.

Naomi Osaka wears a black nike tennis set with pearls in her hair — The tennis pro affixed bows to her braided hair.

The bow trend has become so popular over the last year, that fashion, as a whole, has reached a saturation point. Some have grown wary of the Great Bowification, but Osaka's sportswear has given the "coquette" staple new life.

Catch me wearing bows for the foreseeable future.

Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance fashion editor and writer. At Marie Claire, she provides witty celeb style commentary, unpacking the style choices of stars like Zoë Kravitz, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, and her fashion superhero, Rihanna. When she’s not tracking the personal style of Hollywood’s elite, Kelsey also covers designer collabs and industry news.

Before taking her talents to Marie Claire, Kelsey was the Senior Fashion Editor at Bustle, where she oversaw the site’s fashion coverage. Prior to Bustle, she came from a six-year stint at Seventeen. In her freelance era, Kelsey contributes to publications like InStyle, Cosmopolitan,and more. Follow @klstieg on Instagram for 'fit pics and travel recommendations.