Naomi Osaka and Yoon Ahn bring style and self-expression to the court

Naomi Osaka's monumental return to tennis resonates far beyond the confines of the court— and her comeback unapologetically creates a path for others to follow, empowering the next generation to step into their power, and each chapter, with style. 

In the spirit of Osaka's trailblazing summer, Nike united her and fashion designer Yoon Ahn to create one-of-a-kind day and nigh t competition kits (in green and black, respectively) for her return to the US Open.

Osaka's custom looks feature one-of-a-kind performance dresses designed for the exact specifications of her game, as well as walk-on skirts and jackets with oversized bows as distinctive as her dominance on the court.

"The inspiration that fuelled the look for me—and this might be a Japanese term—is feeling like a 'magical girl' on the court", Osaka says. "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".

The competition kit unveils alongside a new Nike Women by Yoon apparel collection. Together, the kit and collection tap into Nike's underlying innovation and design philosophy, which is rooted in listening to the voice of the athlete, meeting athlete needs and advancing their dreams. In doing so, the brand unlocks only-at-Nike opportunities, like bridging Osaka and Ahn, a long-time Nike collaborator, to expand the edges of sport and create new meanings across sport, style and culture.

Throughout the collection, Ahn employs court-inspired styles that play outside the lines. The collection's colours, for example, draw on both vintage school uniforms and classic sport styles to evoke a rebellious, anarchistic teen aesthetic reflected in the Nike Women by Yoon campaign. Unexpected cuts further that feeling, combining classic tailoring with modern energy and edge to offer looks that can be worn as kit or styled and celebrated as separates. All the while, remixed heritage details such as chenille varsity patches and YA for NikeCourt logos infuse classic tennis styles with a distinctive, contemporary flair.

The campaign builds upon many of the themes found in Ahn's previous Nike collaborations—particularly the 2023 Nike x Ambush football collection, which harnessed Ahn's unique take on femininity, fashion, fandom and pop culture through the gaze of a fictitious teen film. Osaka serves as the campaign's muse, reminding of the power in joining two barrier-breaking leaders in a way that only Nike and its partners can.

"We live in a girls' world and I wanted to embody that in Naomi's on-court look as well as the collection", Ahn says. "For Naomi's look, she brought forward a vision and it was my job as a designer to create something that she'll feel confident and comfortable in when she walks onto the court, allowing her to bring 100% of herself. The collection is an extension of that idea, allowing women to bring out their character and enhance their own personal styles".

The Nike Women by Yoon Collection will be available across Nike.com and selected Nike retail locations beginning 27 August.