Naomi Osaka captivated the audience on Tuesday, stepping onto the court in a stunning crystal-studded red Nike ensemble and defeating Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the US Open’s second round at Flushing Meadows.
The two-time champion made a memorable entrance at Louis Armstrong Stadium with an eye-catching rose-adorned ponytail, which she later removed for practicality, yet not before making an impression during the evening session.
“I thought it would be really fun to play in New York under the lights,” Osaka said about her custom-designed outfit. “This is my night outfit, so hopefully I’ll wear my day outfit next time.”
The 23rd seed’s dramatic presentation extended beyond fashion, as her bag featured a small Labubu charm she playfully named “Billie Jean Bling, not Billie Jean King” during her on-court interview.
“I didn’t expect everyone to love Billie Jean Bling. I’m glad she brought laughter today,” she noted.
Underneath the sparkle and style were familiar pre-match nerves for the 27-year-old mother.
“I could have had a better attitude. I was just very stressed. It was the first round, and this tournament means a lot to me,” Osaka said. “I wish I had focused more on the process rather than the result, but I’m relieved I won.”
The nerves were apparent early on but didn’t reflect in her stats—seven powerful aces, no break points faced in the second set, and a perfect six-for-six on break opportunities in a match she concluded in 83 minutes.
Minnen, ranked 106th, was ultimately undone by 30 unforced errors against Osaka’s relentless baseline strength.
“I feel like she was more aggressive than I expected. I was a bit overwhelmed at times, but I just tried to make her play one more shot,” Osaka said, acknowledging recent wins for boosting her confidence. “It feels great to have won several matches against strong players, especially on a surface I love.”
Her intricate outfit required years of planning by Nike, with the crystals posing a significant challenge for performance wear. The dramatic hair change after entering the court was always in the plan.
“I always knew I was going to remove the hair because it’s really heavy,” she explained.
Next, she faces American Hailey Baptiste, whom Osaka described as a player who “can do almost anything.” Aware of the challenge of playing a home crowd favorite, she remained philosophical.
“All I can do is try my best and see what the outcome is,” she commented. Osaka aims to become the first mother to win a Grand Slam singles title since Kim Clijsters at the 2011 Australian Open.
Based on Tuesday’s impressive combination of style and skill, that dream might be one step closer to reality under New York’s bright lights.
