It’s time for another Grand Slam fashion overview. We haven’t had one since the Australian Open in January, as Wimbledon has been canceled and Roland Garros postponed. After a long period without tennis, apparel manufacturers couldn’t wait to roll out new designs and have them promoted at tournaments. My extensive overview covers all major brands (Nike, Fila, Adidas, New Balance, Lacoste, Asics), as well as most of the smaller or emerging producers of WTA clothes.
Naomi Osaka‘s custom Nike look includes solid shorts and a colorblocked bodysuit featuring a large circular cutout on the back. There is a darker and a lighter version of the outfit which reminds me a lot of the Japanese’s 2017 US Open Adidas apparel designed by musician Pharrell Williams. Don’t you agree?
For warm-up, Osaka uses the Nike Fall NY Jacket and always steps on the court wearing a face mask emblazoned with names of black people killed by police (she prepared seven different masks hoping that she would reach the final), as her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Does anyone see what’s written on Osaka’s hot pink Nike Air Zoom GP Turbo shoes?
Aryna Sabalenka also rocks a bodysuit and shorts, but from the colorful Nike collection inspired by Andre Agassi’s iconic 1990 fashion.
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The Nike Challenge Court collection that revives the ATP legend’s anti-establishment aesthetic has flooded the US Open courts, as it’s also been worn by Petra Kvitova, Sloane Stephens, Amanda Anisimova, Victoria Azarenka, Donna Vekic and others. They all mixed and matched different pieces from the collection. The above photo shows the 2017 US Open champion Stephens wearing the ultramarine version of the Nike Fall NY Slam Tank and orange Nike Fall NY Slam 2-in-1 Shorts.
Serena Williams indulges in red with her Nike dress, pom pom hair accessories and shoes that feature a gold crown detail, just so that opponents are reminded of who they’re dealing with.
There is also this nude version of the look.
Retired Maria Sharapova released both the day and night versions of her US Open dress. The mustard and olive designs include mesh underlayers at chest and back, plus wide mesh insets on the sides. Another outstanding look by Masha that blends the boundaries between tennis fashion and occasionwear.
Such a pity that no one is wearing these dresses in New York.
Adidas‘ NYC collection is marked by power pink and haze coral accents on predominantly black, white or grey items. As an example, here is Angelique Kerber‘s Adidas NYC Dress, featuring contrast mesh elastic Y-back straps and similar horizontal stripes below hips. The dress flares into an A-shape with micro-pleated skirt. The three-time Grand Slam champion’s shoe model of choice is the Adidas SoleCourt Boost.
Fila-clad players sport the Heritage line, rooted in the brand’s rich tennis fashion history and fused with contemporary style and performance updates. The new Heritage collection enriches the traditional navy/red/white palette with pops of eye-catching green. Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin combines the navy version of the Fall Heritage Racerback Tank with the green Fall Heritage Skirt and the Axilus 2 Energized shoe.
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Striking red called neo flame dominates New Balance‘s 2020 US Open collection. The clothes feature a metallic print made up of squares and tennis balls. Even though Coco Gauff is just 16 years old, the American has established herself as the brand’s leading representative and her unique look included a tank with asymmetrical neckline and a matching printed skirt.
New Balance’s Heather Watson chose grey separates — the Fall Print Tournament Tank, featuring red frame-like detailing on the front and back, and Fall Print Tournament Skirt.
After almost two decades with Fila, four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters decided to support a small fashion business and teamed up with independent label Full Court Sport, founded in 2014 by designer and sports lover Marguerite Wade.
Even though her recently launched Wonder Woman collection would have been a perfect fit for the US Open, Venus Williams introduced the EleVen Shine collection on the first day of the tournament. The sparkly new clothes featuring textural pops of foil application come in colors blush and cloudy indigo. During her first-round match, the tennis legend wore the EleVen Shine Luminosity Skirt and Race Day Tank Top.
Lotto representatives led by Elise Mertens are wearing the geometrically-printed Tech line. The Belgian is seen here in the Spring Tech Print Tank and Spring Tech Print Skirt.
Lacoste delivers refreshed classic designs with neat blocks of blue and green shades. Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit combines the Lacoste SPORT Colorblock Stretch Tennis Tank Top and Asymmetrical Pleated Tennis Skirt.
Ajla Tomljanovic represents K-Swiss in simple pink separates.
Dayana Yastremska and Anastasija Sevastova promote Yonex in a red ensemble with black contrasts such as the racerback of the US Open Tank and trim at bottom hem of the US Open Skirt. We’ve already seen this outfit in action many times, as Yonex launched it on the Tour’s resumption in Palermo.
Caroline Garcia ousted top seed Karolina Pliskova in the second round, sporting the Asics Fall Elite Dress and Gel Resolution 8 shoes. As I revealed in my Asics apparel preview, this Fall collection will also be what Asics-sponsored athletes will wear at Roland Garros.
The bi-color pleats of Johanna Konta‘s Ellesse skirt really remind me of Serena’s 2016 US Open dress.
Australian Ellen Perez is seen here in Bidi Badu’s nightlife-inspired Heat of the Night collection.
What is your impression about tennis fashion at this year’s US Open? What are your favorites? Tell me in the comments! I really like the vibrant colors and the fit of Naomi’s bodysuit, I was also impressed by the red outfit worn by Coco, and the sophisticated Lacoste whites, even though I usually prefer to see colorful dresses in New York.
Serena’s dress remind me of Masha’s last years dresses. But I love the red n nude colors on Serena.
And Marija, do you have any info on Vikas shoes, she is not wearing Nike Flare anymore, she was wearing some kind of running shoes like in pastel color, i maybe wrong though.
I agree. I was gonna say I love Serena’s dresses. They’re very similar to Maria sharapova 2019 US open dress. The skirt is a bit different but the design of the top is definitely similar. Even the vertical stripe on the back.
Finally, the Nike outfits are so similar to the adidas line a few years ago with the yellow, blue, and red color palette. Especially Osaka’s.
Are the nude and navy Nike’s Serena wears for sale anywhere???
Ian, good question. Websites still state the Flare model to be Vika’s shoe, but you’re right that she’s wearing a different model. I did some research and couldn’t find which model it is. Maybe someone else here knows?
Justina, I loved the Pharrell Williams line by Adidas and this custom Nike design for Osaka looks so good on her, just like the colorblocked outfit from her days with Adidas. The Agassi-inspired designs don’t resemble that Adidas’ collection, just Osaka’s bodysuit.
Marie, I don’t think so… It’s a shame.
I like the Asics dress, Lacoste and Fila. The Nike theme is kind of funky but I always feel like Nike tries too had to be interesting and tends to overwhelm the players.
Nike is like 2016 Adidas Aussie Open Women’s collection. Except color different. I like retro design from Nike. Lotto confusing design. Serena dress pretty but boring. Konta skirt true like Serena. Lacoste also similar Miami Serena dress 2013. My favorite dress.
Is there no more Stella Macartney collection in Adidas?
Kata, yes, no more Stella in the tennis world.
Loving Serena’s dresses and went looking to purchase and found this article! Wish they’d do a better job w fit across her chest. Really expect more. Also find that Sofia Kenin needs to go up a size w her skirts! Can see
Her crotch and butt and I’m not into it. Looks awful. Other Fula players look good! Also loving the whimsical Nike outfits ala Agassi!
*Fila!!!
Also I like the Adidas dress and Alja Tomlanovic looks amazing in that photo, although you cna’t really see the dress!
2020 US Open outfits generally were boring. If I had to choose: liked Gauff, Venus W, and Kerber. Least favorites: Garcia and Azerenka. Kenin would be good if sized correctly.
The Nike shorts that Azarenka wore during the US Open and now in Rome looks like a poor fitting diaper on her, its not her fault.
Do we know what Serena is gonna wear at the Roland Garros next week?
And also Venus?
Jason Aghahowa, I was informed by Nike that their players will wear the same outfits as at the US Open and Venus will wear the Shine collection, also the same as in NY.
Designers have to respect the demands of movement in the sport, and add grace, fluidity, originality and style, but above all, respect the top tennis players’ comfort and concentration (as well as that of the audience). Never should the player have to fidget and tug away at her clothes between points, when a gust blows in the stadium, or worse, when she is about to serve and really needs to focus. Asics made a beautiful light blue soft, flowing dress that Jen Brady and Iga Swiatek wore during the Australian Swing in early 2021. Both did extremely well, and got world publicity during the AO and Iga, in Adelaide. Both had great problems with the unsubtle, silly front split, that kept blowing the entire dress open to the navel and reduced them to tucking it inside their knickers ! How inelegant and distracting…and immensely undermining of the player and thespectators. You felt sorry for them. The plan with this design has not worked (yet). An intended sexy ‘peep’, became a disastrous bundle tucked repeatedly into knickers to stop interfering with the player. This one needs to go back to the drawing board and a FULL rethink of that front side split. Nike has pulled this split idea off better in previous years. Come on Asics, you can do better with such a lovely fabric !