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Naomi Osaka participated in The Garden Cup on Dec. 8 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, competing against Aryna SabalenkaFor her moment on the court, the 28-year-old athlete rewore one of her most memorable looks to date — the custom Nike outfit by designer Yoon Ahn that she debuted at the 2024 US OpenThe match comes months after Osaka made waves for her 2025 US Open looks that came with coordinated cyrstal-embellished Labubus
Rewears are hard to ace — unless you’re Naomi Osaka.
The Japanese tennis player competed against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka for the annual Garden Cup at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8. And while she didn’t walk home with another victory under her belt, the 28-year-old athlete sure scored a win in terms of fashion.
For the Dec. 8 event, the mom of one dusted off one her most iconic looks to date, rewearing the custom Yoon Ahn Nike design that she debuted at the 2024 US Open, to which she returned after welcoming her daughter in July 2023.
Naomi Osaka in her custom Nike outfit by fashion designer Yoon Ahn at the 2025 Garden Cup.
Adam Hunger/Getty (2)
On Instagram, Osaka teased her look writing, “Tonight NY,” then unveiled her ensemble for the second time with her stylish arrival — which preceded a coin toss presided over by Anna Wintour.
The outfit, which also has a white and neon green version, consists of a bow-adorned bomber jacket and skirts with ruffles. “The inspiration that fueled the look for me — and this might be a Japanese term — is feeling like a ‘magical girl’ on the court,” Osaka said in a press release published by Nike in August 2024. “There’s a moment of transformation for me when I walk onto the court, and I have a lot of fun playing, so wanting everyone who sees the outfit to connect with that feeling is a really big motivation for me.”
Before her first match at last year’s US Open, Osaka also spoke to The New York Times about the significance of her outfit, which drew inspiration from Japanese culture as an ode to her birth country (the athlete moved to the U.S. at age 3). “I remember one of the first times I went to Japan, I saw so many frills and so many bows,” she said.
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Naomi Osaka competing in the US Open on Aug. 29, 2024.
Robert Prange/Getty
Despite the fact that the ensemble is nontraditional for the sport, Osaka said she didn’t see “anything risky” about it. “I think it’s a beautiful garment,” she shared. “I’ve lived in the era when Serena [Williams] taking her jacket off was the reveal. So to maybe give someone else that experience, for me, is exciting.”
She also called the bespoke uniform her “super suit” during a press conference at the time.
During her return to the US Open this past August, Osaka made a splash with a whole new head-turning wardrobe complete with a rotation of crystal Labubus custom-designed to match each of her outfits. The accessories became a signature for Osaka throughout the event as she continuously introduced her different figurines with names inspired by famous tennis stars (Billie Jean Bling ring a bell?).
Naomi Osaka and her custom crystal Labubu ar her Aug. 26 match during the US Open.
Robert Prange/Getty; Robert Prange/Getty
In an interview with CNN at her Aug. 26 face-off against Greet Minnen at Louis Armstrong Stadium, she shared insight on what goes into planning her outfits.
“[The process is] not hard, but it always makes me excited for what’s coming up that people don’t know about,” she explained. “So we always have fittings months and months in advance, and I know what next year is going to look like. That just kind of makes me excited to obviously do well so I can have a good court to wear these outfits on.”
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