Nike has always been the most dominant tennis fashion brand, but I have an impression that they marked this year’s US Open more than any other recent major. Not only was the women’s singles champion Emma Raducanu endorsing their apparel, their New York collection offered a wide variety of designs, so their numerous representatives were able to create many different looks and avoid twinning. Let’s have a look at this year’s US Open fashion, as part of my traditional Grand Slam fashion overviews.
Naomi Osaka rocked a custom neon yellow dress featuring contrast black trims and deep V-back secured with a horizontal band on the widest section. Geometrically printed biker shorts were peeking out. The dress is available at Tennis Warehouse Europe.
Even though the vibrant dress stood out, the real star was the customized Nike Air Zoom GP Turbo tennis shoe that celebrated the four-time Grand Slam champion’s multicultural heritage with the flags of Haiti and Japan.
The world No.3 also introduced her personalized Yonex Ezone tennis racquet and bag created in collaboration with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.
Another player honored with a custom outfit was New Balance-sponsored Coco Gauff. The American teenager loves vibrant colors and ’90-inspired fashion. New Balance took that into account and created a bodysuit whose black-and-white print combines a representation of New York graffiti and Gauff’s signature. The young star’s New Balance FuelCell 996v4.5 shoes reflect the atmosphere under the lights at the US Open.
NikeCourt athletes had a lot of options to choose from, so spectators were not seeing the same outfits over and over again. The players could pick one of three versions of the Nike Fall NY Slam Dress, or mix and match different tanks and skirts/shorts. Before the tournament, Elina Svitolina nicely presented several looks from the Nike New York collection.
Champion Emma Raducanu combined the varsity style Nike Fall NY Slam Tank and the Nike Fall NY Slam Skirt. To match the outfits, Nike created shoe models in the same color palette. Raducanu wore the Nike React Vapor NXT in white with green accents.
Leylah Fernandez sported the Asics Fall Match Tank, whose print looks like rays which represent lights of New York City at night. The Canadian paired it with a simple white skort.
The runner-up’s sneakers are the Asics Gel Resolution 8, which have made the Best Tennis Shoes of 2021 list, standing out in the stability/durability category.
Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty debuted Fila‘s 110 Year collection, which brings archival Fila sketches to life in a contemporary, high-performance package, celebrating the company’s fashion history that dates back to 1911. The Australian was wearing the 110 Year Racerback Tank and A-Line Skirt. The Axilus 2 Energized shoes in marina/navy complements the apparel.
Other Fila representatives, including Shelby Rogers, introduced the Wildcard collection, that gives off a retro vibe with its color palette of rattan / dusk blue / stucco / black and moonlight. A variety of high-neck designs and printed insets make the range even more unique, although Rogers opted for a more simple combination of the classic light blue Racerback Tank and a layered side-wrap skirt. Tennis shoe in this collection is the limited-edition white / black / stucco style of the Axilus 2 Energized.
Adidas introduced earth tones and prints inspired by the herringbone pattern of their revived Barricade tennis shoe. Maria Sakkari of Greece was the most successful Adidas representative at this year’s US Open, reaching the semifinals in the peach version of the NY Y-Back Tank and the olive-toned NY Print Skirt.
Lacoste made a wonderful execution of vintage style with a subtle houndstooth pattern featured in the classy green tennis dress sported by Anett Kontaveit. The dress has teddy style contrast folded collar with concealed zippered fastening, contrast elasticized waistband and striped slit on front.
Reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova represented Head in a simple full-coverage tank with printed graphic on the front and a solid navy skirt.
Ajla Tomljanovic put the focus on her K-Swiss Ultrashot 3 LE Beach House sneakers, touted as the most stable and durable shoe in the K-Swiss lineup.
What were your favorite styles at the 2021 US Open? Tell me in the comments below.
