Naomi Osaka is standing by her bold fashion choices after criticism of her elaborate looks at the 2026 US Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion addressed the backlash after her tournament run ended in New York. She made it clear that she is willing to face criticism if it helps future players express themselves more freely. Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson wowed in a striking zebra-effect Rick Owens dress in Los Angeles.
Naomi Osaka Says Criticism Is Worth It for Future Players
According to Fashion Times, Naomi Osaka responded to criticism in a Threads post on Tuesday, September 8. The tennis star said she does not mind being “the first to do something and getting trashed for it.”
Osaka explained that the criticism would be worthwhile if it made things easier for those who come after her.
“As long as the people after me have an easier path,” Naomi Osaka wrote, “it’s worth it.”
Naomi Osaka’s US Open Looks Made a Statement
As reported by Fashion Times, Osaka and her stylist, Law Roach, approached each US Open round with a different fashion reveal.
Her first look came from New York label Who Decides War. The outfit included a distressed hooded piece lined with clippings from her career. She paired it with a long white tulle skirt.
Her Bold Fashion Was Building All Season
According to Fashion Times, the US Open was far from Naomi Osaka’s first dramatic fashion moment of 2026.
At the Australian Open in January, she wore a jellyfish-inspired Robert Wun design. The look included a parasol, veil, and butterfly-covered hat.
In May, Osaka arrived at Roland Garros in a black Kevin Germanier corset and cascading skirt. She wore the outfit over a sequined Nike dress.
Then, at Wimbledon in June, the champion wore an embroidered white kimono. The design drew inspiration from her Japanese heritage and Kill Bill. She said she wanted to channel Lucy Liu’s character, O-Ren Ishii.
Not everyone appreciated Osaka’s theatrical entrances. After losing to her at the French Open, Laura Siegemund said she came “to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show.”
Siegemund also criticized the amount of time Naomi Osaka was allowed to take off her entrance layers. Still, the criticism did not stop the athlete from continuing to experiment with fashion.
“I don’t talk a lot,” Osaka previously explained. “So I can talk through my clothes.”
Why Osaka Refuses to Stop Expressing Herself
Fashion Times reported that Naomi Osaka has long been inspired by other women who brought fashion to tennis. She has named Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Maria Sharapova, and Serena and Venus Williams among her style influences.
At Roland Garros, Osaka also explained that she hoped younger people might eventually see her outfits the same way she once viewed the fashion reveals of other players.
Her recent response suggests that she accepts the backlash that can come with doing something differently. For Osaka, pushing boundaries may make it easier for younger players to do the same one day.
The tennis champion has made it clear that she has no intention of dressing to please every critic. For her, fashion is a form of expression. If facing criticism helps expand that freedom for future generations, Naomi Osaka appears ready to keep taking the risk.
In a similar vein, fans have rallied behind 56-year-old Debbie Gibson after she faced backlash for a revealing concert outfit.
