Naomi Osaka’s fashion choices once again became a talking point at the US Open, with the Japanese star attracting a wave of criticism from some fans before producing the performance that mattered most on court.
Osaka arrived at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Saturday night wearing a striking gray ensemble consisting of a light-gray zip-up hoodie beneath a tailored plaid blazer, paired with extremely wide-leg gray trousers.
The outfit marked another dramatic change from the looks she has worn during this year’s tournament, reinforcing Osaka’s reputation for making fashion part of her Grand Slam appearances.
Three appearances, three very different looks
Osaka’s clothing choices in New York have followed a distinctly different theme each time she has walked onto court.
During Monday’s night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, she appeared in an all-black Nike skirt and tank-top combination.
By Thursday, she had switched to an entirely white look featuring a long overshirt decorated with stitched tennis rackets.
That outfit even caused an awkward moment before play when the lengthy fabric trailed behind her and caught beneath her feet as she made her way toward the net for the coin toss and pre-match handshake.
Saturday brought another complete transformation, with Osaka opting for muted gray tones and oversized tailoring before changing into an all-black Nike playing outfit for her match against Elise Mertens.
Fans unleash criticism online
The latest outfit did not receive universal approval from viewers watching from home.
Some spectators argued that Osaka’s fashion statements were unnecessary at a tennis tournament, while others questioned why she continued to adopt such distinctive looks.
“Nobody cares, it’s a tennis court not Paris fashion week ffs,” one critic wrote on social media.
Another commenter said, “She’s the only one that does this.”
A third added: “Always cringe. My favorite tennis player is whoever is playing against Naomi Osaka.”
Other reactions were even harsher, with one fan saying Osaka “looked like a clown,” while another declared they were “so tired of this.”
Despite the criticism, Osaka appeared focused on the task in front of her once the match began.
Osaka survives a three-set battle
The 13th-seeded Osaka eventually advanced to the fourth round after overcoming Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in a contest lasting two hours and 38 minutes.
The victory was anything but straightforward.
Osaka surrendered the second set and found herself trailing 4-2 in the deciding set before mounting a comeback.
When the final point was won, Osaka placed her head against her racket, appearing stunned by what she had managed to accomplish.
“Honestly, I can’t believe I won this match,” Osaka said afterward.
“I’m literally shocked that I won this match.”
Japanese star admits she struggled mentally
Osaka acknowledged that the match had been an emotional battle and said she was disappointed with aspects of her own performance despite eventually securing the victory.
“There was a certain point, I don’t know, I felt like I put my entire heart on the court and then I just kept trying every single point,” she said.
The four-time Grand Slam champion also admitted she had become increasingly negative toward herself as the contest progressed.
“I didn’t feel like I played amazing, and it was really getting me down. I was very negative on myself,” Osaka explained.
Her ability to keep fighting despite those frustrations ultimately proved decisive as she recovered from her third-set deficit to reach the last 16.
US Open crowd behavior also becomes a talking point
Osaka’s fashion controversy came amid another incident earlier in the tournament involving spectators during one of her matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Play was temporarily disrupted when the chair umpire addressed a group of spectators in one of the stadium’s hospitality suites.
“Guys, please, in the suite behind me, please thank you guys, please take your seat,” the umpire told the crowd.
The broadcast showed members of the group moving around, taking photographs and talking despite the match being underway.
Another spectator could subsequently be heard shouting, “The players are ready!”
Once the stadium became quieter, Osaka attempted to resume serving but struggled with her ball toss and apologized before restarting the point.
Social media footage fuels questions over spectators
Footage later shared on social media appeared to show members of the same group posing together during the match, with an individual who appeared to be a US Open staff member holding a portable light to assist with the photograph.
Another spectator was also reportedly filmed posing in front of the court while a portable light was being used during live play.
The incidents prompted questions about how much activity should be permitted in premium seating areas while matches are taking place.
US Open explains how disruptions are handled
Brendan McIntyre, head of US Open communications, said the tournament wants spectators to enjoy their experience but emphasized that their behavior cannot interfere with competition.
“We want our fans and guests to have an incredible time when they attend the US Open, but we also need to ensure that does not interfere with the action and competition on the court,” McIntyre told Daily Mail Sport.
He added that such incidents are unusual and said chair umpires have authority to intervene when crowd activity becomes disruptive.
“These instances happen infrequently, and similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur,” McIntyre said.
For Osaka, however, the noise surrounding her latest fashion choice ultimately took a back seat to her achievement on court, as she fought through another difficult match to continue her US Open campaign.
