Naomi Osaka’s 2019 tennis fashion in review: Transition from Adidas to Nike and Sacai looks

Going through photos of Naomi Osaka‘s 2019 outfits, I almost can’t believe she started this year in Adidas! I’m so used to her wearing Nike now that the big WTA fashion switch seems to have happened years ago. As you know, the two-time Grand Slam champion started wearing the Swoosh in April and is the first Nike star ever to wear three personal sponsors on her on-court apparel (credit card company Mastercard, Japanese noodle brand Nissin and Japanese airway company ANA). Let’s review all Naomi Osaka’s 2019 looks as part of my traditional Fashion Retrospections.

Osaka opened the year in Brisbane, wearing last year’s black Adidas outfit from the US Open, where she won her maiden Grand Slam title and made her ascent to the tennis elite.

The top is unique for its T-back with triangular hardware connecting thick straps.

Adidas’ first collection in 2019 was inspired by oceans and their protection. Debuted at the Australian Open, the ombre blue apparel created in cooperation with Parley for the Oceans included yarn made from recycled plastic bottles. The Japanese rocked this style in Dubai (her first event as a world No.1 player), Indian Wells and Miami, before the biggest shift in the WTA fashion world was about to happen.

The 2019 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was Osaka’s first tournament with Nike. It’s strange that her introduction to the Nike camp wasn’t grandiose, in a sense that the Japanese’s first ever Nike outfit was a simple white tank and pleated black skirt, while they could’ve created something more unique to further capitalize on the hype.

The classic separates, paired with vibrant orange shoes, were Osaka’s choice for Madrid and Rome as well.

Interestingly, even Osaka’s Roland Garros look was quite basic — a pleated Nike Summer Victory Skirt in oxygen purple and a matching tank top. Osaka’s plain separates were spiced up by the printed Nike Air Zoom Zero Clay Shoes and the Nike Summer Dry Long-Sleeve Top, a cropped design featuring a toile-inspired print, depicting pastoral scenes of skeletons amid tennis-specific details.

On the grass of Birmingham we saw the same outfit as in Paris.

At Wimbledon, Osaka finally introduced a design made specifically for her. It was a strange, asymmetrical dress featuring long, uneven, pleated skirt and the chest area with unusual cutout on the right side.

In Toronto and Cincinnati, Osaka wore the Nike Fall Print Tank featuring half vertical, half horizontal stripes, a skirt in the color celestial gold and animal-print footwear.

For her first Grand Slam title defense at Flushing Meadows, Nike honored 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 then-world No.1’s elegant articulation of a contemporary bodysuit played with asymmetrical skirt layers, cutouts, racerback ruffles, and pops of contrast.

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

The tennis ace completed the colorblocked look with these bright neon Nike Air Zoom Zero sneakers.

According to her social media posts, the US Open outfit is Osaka’s all-time favorite.

At the end of the season, including the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, the 22-year-old got back to basics — the white Nike Winter Court Tank and Nike Winter Elevated Flouncy Skirt.

I agree with Naomi, the US Open outfits were spectacular. Edgy designs suit her best, as they complement her exotic look and her young age.

Now that you’ve seen an overview of Osaka’s 2019 on-court clothes, you can also go through my last year’s retrospective of her wardrobe and give a verdict whether she was more stylish with Adidas or with Nike. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below!