Naomi Osaka advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025 U.S Open on Monday with the help of custom Nike tennis shoes on foot.
In a highly anticipated match up, Osaka faced off against fellow Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, ultimately beating the younger player with a final score of 6-3 6-2.
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While Gauff was decked out in New Balance, Osaka repped Nike from head to toe. Matching her bright violet kit, her shoes were a custom version of Nike’s GP Challenge 1 tennis shoes.
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The iteration showcased a multi-colored design with purple and fuchsia splashed against a pale blue background. In addition to the colorway, little details throughout the shoes stood out: a heart with a spiky wing-like frame at the tongue, black flame-like designs on the upper and Japanese characters paying tribute to the heritage of Osaka, who plays for her birth country of Japan. The athlete also donned the shoes, which are as of now unreleased, during her Saturday match against Daria Kasatkina.
The sneakers accompanied a custom purple Nike tennis kit featuring a tiered bubble skirt and swaths of sparkling fabric at the midriff and chest. Earlier in the tournament, Osaka wore a red iteration of this look with the floral “Naomi Osaka” version of the GP Challenge 1, which is available to shop.
The GP Challenge 1 sneakers, designed for hard-court tennis, are equipped with an Air Zoom unit at the forefoot and one at the heel as well. A midfoot plastic plate helps with stability and webbing around the eyestays provides a feeling of containment during side-to-side movements. The heel is extra padded for comfort and designed to support rocker-like movements, which would include pulling back for a serve. Some additional features include extra rubber in the toe region, particularly around the big toe, and high abrasion rubber in the forefoot. The style retails for $170 from Nike.