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Naomi Osaka is Making Tennis Shoes Cool Again at the US Open

Tennis fans are obsessed with Naomi Osaka's Nike shoes.

Pat Benson

Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Naomi Osaka (JPN) runs towards the net to get to a ball hit by Elise Mertens (not pictured) during the second round of play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Naomi Osaka (JPN) runs towards the net to get to a ball hit by Elise Mertens (not pictured) during the second round of play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

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Few tennis players in the 21st century have had a more compelling journey than Naomi Osaka. After missing all of last year, the four-time Grand Slam Champion has made a strong return in 2024.

But at this point in the 26-year-old's career, it's about more than tennis. Osaka is focused on building her brand while remaining true to herself. One of the ways she is doing that is with her fashion choices.

While many tennis fans are understandably focused on Osaka's sartorial style, others are focused on her Nike tennis shoes. Osaka is literally putting a bow on the kicks she is wearing at the US Open. In the process, she is making performance tennis shoes cool again.

So far in the US Open, Osaka has worn the Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1 in a player-exclusive white and green colorway. Fans can choose from similar colorways for $160 in adult sizes on the Nike website. Unfortunately, none of them come with a bow attached to the heels.

Additionally, Nike has released multiple player-exclusive colorways in Osaka's name over the years, some of which are available at a discount on her section of the Nike website.

Currently, there is no release information on Osaka's tennis shoes from the US Open. Like the bow on her shoes, we will keep our fingers crossed for a future release. Fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all their sneaker news from tennis and beyond.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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