Naomi Osaka stepped onto Louis Armstrong Stadium with more than just her tennis game on display. The former world No. 1 defeated Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the 2025 US Open, but it was her stunning rose-themed ensemble that turned heads and sparked conversations across social media.
The intricate design, complete with crystals and floral motifs, represented months of planning for this exact moment under the New York lights.
How Did Naomi Osaka Create Her Rose-Themed US Open Look?
During the post-match press conference, a reporter was fascinated by her look and asked Osaka to elaborate on how she came up with the whole idea to do her hair and everything. The Japanese star took an interest in describing her thought process and began explaining the extensive preparation behind her outfit.
“Yeah, I designed this outfit a while ago. I’ll probably post a video about it later, but we tried it on, honestly, last year. And it was really elaborate because the crystals are really hard to do on a performance outfit,” Osaka revealed.
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Osaka then explained why she saved this particular dress for the US Open specifically. “I just thought it would be really fun to do in New York under the lights. And I’m glad that my first match was a night match because this outfit was really fun to play. This is my night outfit. So, hopefully I’ll wear my day outfit next time,” she said, teasing fans about a potentially unique day outfit as well.
The hair styling proved equally elaborate in its creation process. “My hair was a little chaotic. I just sent Marty like [to a] hair inspo with a big ponytail with roses in it. And I was like ‘You think this is possible?’ We kind of just tossed ideas around,” Osaka explained. She described being thoroughly satisfied with the final result, stating, “The outcome is way better than I could have imagined.”
During her on-court interview, Osaka showed off her shiny Labubu doll, named “Billie Jean Bling” in honor of tennis legend Billie Jean King, after whom the US Open venue is named. The official US Open account shared this clip and tagged King, with the legend commenting, “Definitely need one of these.”
.@BillieJeanKing you’re going to love the name of @naomiosaka‘s Labubu 😃 pic.twitter.com/rLMYfAD0YQ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2025
What Does This Outfit Complete in Osaka’s Grand Slam Fashion Story?
Osaka’s rose motif completes a year-long flower theme across the Grand Slams that has showcased her design creativity throughout 2025. In January’s Australian Open, she wore sunflower-inspired accessories, from sunflower-detailed Nike shoes in yellow and brown to sunflower hair clips, calling the look “fitting for the happy Slam.”
At Roland Garros in May 2025, she unveiled a sakura-themed outfit, complete with cherry-blossom-pink shoes, a matching dress, and sakura-inspired nail art, all designed by Osaka herself. The French Open look continued her pattern of connecting each tournament with a specific floral theme.
Beyond the Grand Slams, Osaka has been building her fashion credentials throughout the year. Last year, she debuted her own Yoon × Nike uniform, showcasing her design flair and creative vision that extends far beyond the tennis court.
How Did Osaka Perform in Her First Round Match?
Osaka defeated Minnen 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour and 23 minutes under the New York lights, breaking the Belgian three times in each set and firing three aces to seal the victory. This marked the first time Osaka has been seeded at a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open, signaling her return to elite-level tennis.
Out of all four majors, her win rate at the US Open remains the highest at 80%, having won 24 matches while losing only six throughout her career at Flushing Meadows.
Osaka, a two-time US Open champion in 2018 and 2020, advanced to the second round in her ninth appearance at Flushing Meadows. She credited her recent coaching switch to Tomasz Wiktorowski for her renewed confidence, following a runner-up finish in Montreal that built momentum heading into New York.
“It was the first round, and this tournament means a lot to me. I really wanted to win,” she said during her post-match interview. “Whenever I play here, the atmosphere feels like home, and it is home for me.”
The next challenge for Osaka comes against American Hailey Baptiste, who is ranked 47th in the world. While Osaka has yet to reach past the fourth round since her 2021 Australian Open title, her confident start and improved form suggest the potential for a deeper run in New York this time around.
