Naomi Osaka’s style, both on and off the court, has been stunning and widely discussed. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, the former World No. 1’s rumored outfit for the tournament received criticism from fans.
Naomi Osaka ‘Stands’ by Her Rumored Australian Open Kit After It Was Criticized by Fans
Osaka has been sponsored by Nike since 2019, and all her tournament outfits and shoes are designed by the American sports apparel company. Last year, her Grand Slam outfits drew inspiration from flowers.
She wore sunflower-themed attire at the Australian Open, honored her Japanese heritage with a sakura-themed outfit at the French Open, and donned bedazzled rose-themed outfits at the US Open.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Osaka announced that her Grand Slam outfits for the year would all be “certified hits.”
Recently, the rumored Nike kit for the 2026 Australian Open surfaced. The outfit features a teal color with a marbled effect, accented with white and blue, and includes frills. However, this design did not resonate with tennis fans, who criticized the dress.
In response to the criticism, Osaka took to social media to share her thoughts, stating that those who are “uncultured” may not understand her fashion choices in tennis. “If you’re uncultured, you’re not going to understand my tennis outfits. The girls that get it, get it lol,” Osaka posted on Threads.
The four-time Grand Slam champion emphasized that all her outfits “have a story and a reason for being.”
“Sorry but I’m standing on this. All my outfits have a story and a reason for being,” Osaka captioned her Instagram story.
Osaka began her 2026 season by representing Japan at the United Cup in Australia. During the group stage matches, she lost to Greece’s Maria Sakkari. In their match against Team United Kingdom, Japan lost 2-1, with Osaka securing Japan’s only point in the tournament by defeating Katie Swan in a singles match.
Looking ahead, Osaka is set to compete in the Australian Open, a tournament she has won twice, in 2019 and 2021. The Grand Slam tournament is scheduled to take place from January 12 to February 1, 2026, at Melbourne Park, with the main draw matches starting on January 18.
Last year at the Melbourne Major, Osaka defeated Caroline Garcia and Karolína Muchová in the first and second rounds, respectively. In the third round, she faced Belinda Bencic and lost the first set 6-7 (3). She then withdrew from the match before the second set due to an abdominal strain.
