Naomi Osaka has promised the world that she will return to the US Open. “Best costume ever” She wore the most bow-filled outfit she’s ever worn, and she pulled it off. This year, she took to the court in a bomber jacket, a tennis dress, and even bows on the backs of her shoes. But this bold, playful look isn’t just a style thing: It’s also part of her mental game.
Since returning to the tour from maternity leave, the four-time Grand Slam champion has been candid about the difficulty of performing as well as she used to, and fashion is one way she boosts her confidence during matches. “When I wear clothes that I feel good in, it definitely makes me feel better,” Osaka said in an interview. The New York Times The interview was published on Sunday.
More specifically, her girly, coquette theme is actually a nod to her Japanese roots (“kind of Harajuku,” she added). “I remember the first time I went to Japan and I saw a lot of frills and ribbons,” Osaka said. “I don’t automatically think of myself as girly when I’m on the court, but I do tend to gravitate towards really beautiful and cute things, and I think it’s really cool to accentuate that.”
Qiyana Salkeld
Not only does it look stylish (Osaka joked that it’s “very attentive and very cute”), the delicate ribbon also symbolizes her graceful yet powerful style on the court. “My movement coach is actually a ballerina. She’s also my mental coach,” she added. “Before I met her, I thought ballerinas were just flexible, but then I realized they’re all incredibly strong.”
This also explains why she decided to wear two custom Nike designs for the tournament: one for the daytime matches and one for the nighttime matches.”[The color green] “Color gives me peace and serenity,” Osaka explained. “I think color gives me power.” As for black, it gives her strength. “I feel a little bit like Black Panther.”
Osaka knows the spotlight will be on her long-awaited return, but she’s celebrating the moment: “When I put on my U.S. Open outfit, I’ll feel like a different person,” she said, and that change will include “letting go of the expectations that I put on myself.”
Related:
Get SELF’s best sports stories delivered to your inbox for free.