US Open tennis outfits light up New York’s fashion scene

The 2019 US Open served tennis fashion inspired by New York’s walls, streets, public tennis courts, and in general by the city’s vibe. The season’s final Grand Slam is the most progressive when it comes to the way players dress and this year we had a number of special releases — Nike’s collab with Sacai, Air Jordan’s venture into the tennis world, and many many more. I made another comprehensive presentation of WTA outfits as part of my traditional Grand Slam fashion overviews. 

For her first Grand Slam title defense, Nike honored Naomi Osaka with an exclusive two-piece outfit designed by Japanese Chitose Abe of Sacai. The Sacai label is known for hybrid silhouettes with attention to detail, so the world No.1’s elegant articulation of a contemporary bodysuit plays with asymmetrical skirt layers, cutouts, racerback ruffles, and pops of contrast.

Osaka has officially joined the club of tennis fashion icons by having two versions of her Grand Slam attire — black with white/orange.

As Vogue reported, Osaka’s suggestions were taking into account during the design process:

Osaka requested that her on-court look be black—”everyone knows I really love black,” she says—and that it have a pop of bright color, either orange or yellow. “I’m glad they took my suggestions,” she adds.

The 21-year-old complemented the colorblocked look with these bright neon Nike Air Zoom Zero kicks.

Serena Williams‘ on-court look once again turned heads as the American showed up in a black bodysuit to brush aside Maria Sharapova in the first round.

In the later rounds, she added a skirt and made the long-sleeved look less provocative.

Serena’s shoe model is Nike Flare 2.

TENNIS FASHION AT OTHER 2019 GRAND SLAMS:

• Wimbledon: Swarovski Swoosh, textured materials, asymmetry, pleats and gold accents for the grass season
• Roland Garros: Bees, flowers, zebras, graphic prints mix in with classic designs at the claycourt Grand Slam
• Australian Open: Oceans, tattoos, ’90s inspire Melbourne tennis fashion

Maria Sharapova is still honored with a day and a night dress for New York, even though the glory days of her tennis career are long gone because of injuries and she’s now ranked at No.87. Since the Russian fell already in the first round, we saw only the dark version of her elegant Nike Fall Maria NY Dress made from textured stretchy jersey fabric. The dress is gathered at the waist. Mesh panels on the chest and upper back are there to increase ventilation, while a contrast zipper provides easy on and off.

Even though Masha didn’t have a chance to debut the orange version of this dress at the US Open, we did see it on her in an Evian water commercial.

Belinda Bencic, who dethroned Naomi Osaka both from the US Open and the No.1 ranking, wore a simple V-neck design, the purple Nike Fall Maria London Seamless Dress. The Swiss also sported the kit shown below.

NikeCourt separates inspired by torn posters seen on the walls of the Big Apple were promoted by a lot of top players. Here we can see fifth seed Elina Svitolina, the highest seeded player to reach the quarterfinals, in the Nike Fall Graphic NY Tank, which she wore tied up in the back, and the Nike Fall Slam NY Skirt.

These Nike Air Zoom Zero kicks are Svitolina’s choice for the US Open.

Sloane Stephens‘ Nike apparel included the Fall Print Tank with half vertical, half horizontal stripes and the Fall Flouncy Skirt. Most importantly, the American debuted a special Air Jordan 8 sneaker model that merges basketball and tennis.

Finally done with Nike! The WTA fashion offer seems to be ten times richer than some years ago. We have a lot more styles to present. Let’s move on.

Adidas.

Kristina Mladenovic‘s Adidas NY Dress comes with glow green shorts and bra, while the dominant black at closer look reveals an NYC-inspired pattern integrated into the fabric.

Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber both donned the Adidas NY Skirt, a pleated design with the New York cityscape glitch print. The Dane paired it with the tight-fitting Adidas NY Tank, featuring an open hole mesh overlay, while the German showcased the Adidas NY Top, green in the front and black in the full open mesh back.

Venus Williams keeps coming up with new prints. While others focused on finding inspiration in the tournament’s host city, the American’s EleVen Phoenix collection celebrates the bird that arises from the ashes. Here we can see V in the Phoenix Volley Dress.

Coco Gauff is only 15-year-old, but the teen already has enough star power to bring New Balance to the top of the women’s tennis fashion game, where it belongs. For the US Open, New Balance collaborated with Gitman Vintage, a line of American shirt-making company Gitman Bros., whose president Chris Olberding came up with a unique pattern — an aerial view of public tennis courts throughout New York City, as seen here in the Fall Rally Print Tank and Skirt.

The young American’s shoes had “Call me Coco” written in black marker.

The collaboration with Gitman Vintage also produced this New Balance Fall Tournament Slambray Tank and Skirt. The tank features tattersall detail at the neckline and back, a classic check customized in the colors of the courts from the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.

Ashleigh Barty, who will ascend back to the No.1 ranking on Monday, presented Fila’s Awning collection.  Here we can see her in the fuchsia purple Awning Halter Tank, white Awning Pleated Skirt, and orange Fila Axilus 2 Energized shoes.

Karolina Pliskova wore the fourth edition of Fila P.L. Rolando collection, a fresh reiteration of timeless looks that celebrate the work and legacy of the company’s original creative director, Pierluigi Rolando. The Czech’s PLR Racerback Tank and PLR Skirt combine Fila’s traditional red, white and navy hues, finished with pops of cerulean and stripe detailing.

Kristie Ahn made a spectacular run to the fourth round in a white skater-cut Lacoste dress unique for its mesh V-neck and contrasting slanted finishes that merge with the neon-accented geometric pattern.

Lotto‘s Elise Mertens sported an ensemble from the Pop Flower collection.

Just like at Roland Garros, Johanna Konta‘s Ellesse outfit featured chevron details.

Monica Niculescu sported an interesting Sofibella skirt — the one with layered carwash hem from the Sorrento collection.

Yonex brought about a nice leafy print on a coral orange background combined with a light blue tone officially called “saxe”. Wearing the Yonex US Open Tank and Skirt, Dayana Yastremska was one of the brand’s representatives at Flushing Meadows.

Yastremska’s shoe model is the Fusion Rev 3.

Asics sticks to classic sporty designs enhanced by their Gel-Cool technology, as we can see on the company’s leading representative Julia Goerges. The German’s footwear of choice is the Solution Speed FF, as I wrote in my Asics US Open fashion preview.

This whole season Bethanie Mattek-Sands is wearing her own bold line designed in partnership with Lucky in Love. This latest collection is called Born Free and here we can see the Lady Gaga of tennis in the Born Free Tie Back Tank, featuring the US-flag-inspired lips, and Hi-Speedway Pleated Skirt.

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Lauren Davis presented Diadora‘s fall collection that includes a honeycomb print in colors plum perfect/boysenberry.

France’s Pauline Parmentier was clad in the striped separates by Le Coq Sportif.

Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic wore a Joma dress that would almost be fit for Wimbledon.

Barbora Strycova was a lady in red in Sergio Tacchini, while her doubles partner Hsieh Su-Wei has an unofficial title of the best dressed proudly unsponsored player on the WTA tour.

Do you like my overview? I covered 95% of brands present at the Open. What are your favorite outfits? Tell me in the comments below!