Naomi Osaka returns to the tennis court at Indian Wells—the BNP Paribas Open—in the California desert, marking her first tournament since an abdominal injury led to her withdrawal from the Australian Open in January. The four-time Grand Slam champion, seeded 16th, is facing Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.
Photo: Sebastian Arriagada / CCG Social
“I’m feeling really inspired,” Osaka shared with Vogue before the match. She described the tournament’s unique atmosphere: “Indian Wells is one of those tournaments that has its own energy—the desert, the light, the crowd. It feels cinematic in a way. I’m excited to step back into that space and compete again.”A Bold New Style Statement
Known for her striking on-court looks, Osaka is bringing her best in both skill and personal style for her highly anticipated return. For both Indian Wells and the upcoming Miami Open, she will wear her signature Nike performance gear, complemented by new custom accessories from Filipino-American designer Chris Habana, whose avant-garde jewelry has been worn by stars like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Naomi Osaka in her Nike gear and custom Chris Habana accessories. Photo: Sebastian Arriagada / CCG Social
“When I first saw my Nike kit, my team and I started asking a bigger question: How do we build a world around it?” Osaka explained. “I’ve always loved magazines and fashion editorials, so my brain naturally went to jewelry and accessories—pieces that could extend the story.”
Habana crafted edgier, more avant-garde accessories to pair with her Nike ensemble—an animal-printed top with a mesh back and shorts. The pieces, which include bold ear cuffs, mesh gloves, fang-like grills, and a chainmail skirt, were designed to instantly imbue Osaka with confidence and power. “He’s created these really layered pieces for artists that feel expressive, but also intentional,” says Osaka. “I loved the idea of bringing that energy onto the court.”Fashion as Functional Armor
The collaboration began with a practical request: “One of the first things I wanted was a functional ear cuff that could hold my earbuds during warmups, but still feel cool,” Osaka said. “That piece became a little anchor for the collection.”
For Habana, who typically outfits musical and runway stars, designing for an athlete presented a new challenge, yet he saw a clear parallel. “Naomi’s walk onto the court isn’t that different from a model walking a runway,” he noted. “The look has to create instant impact, tell a story, and intrigue people. The biggest challenge was designing pieces that could come on and off seamlessly so her transition into the match didn’t feel cumbersome.”
“I like when fashion creates that little moment of intrigue,” says Osaka of her court style. Photo: Sebastian Arriagada / CCG Social
The accessories, which include pieces like gloves and grills, help Osaka enter a game-ready mindset. “The pieces will keep evolving through the tournaments. You’ll see different combinations depending on how I’m feeling that day,” she noted. “I love the finger gloves with claw details. You can wear everything together or break it apart, so each piece becomes its own little layer of armor. It’s playful but still powerful.”
Habana views his jewelry inherently as protection. “Our jewelry has always carried an armor-like quality to it,” he said, connecting his aesthetic to the competitive arena of sports. “In sports, there’s an aggression and a competitive energy that athletes bring to the arena, and the shapes in our jewelry reflect that same sense of fight—balancing both offensive and defensive elements.”Sparking Intrigue
Osaka hopes her custom gear will ignite conversations among tennis and fashion fans. “I can’t control how people interpret things, but I hope the pieces spark curiosity,” she said. “Maybe someone sees them and wonders about the designer, or about why they exist on a tennis court. I like when fashion creates that little moment of intrigue.”
Designer Chris Habana felt empowered by Osaka’s boundary-crossing appeal. “With Naomi crossing so many borders culturally, it gave me a lot of freedom creatively,” he said. “When her stylist Martin described her as a kind of warrior stepping onto the court, that immediately felt aligned with our aesthetic.”
This is not Osaka’s first time using fashion for storytelling; she notably wore an exoskeletal look by Robert Wun at the 2026 Australian Open. “Fashion has always been part of how I tell stories. It’s another language,” Osaka concluded. “The way you feel when you walk onto the court really matters: When you feel strong, when you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, it gives you momentum before the first point is even played. Style can be a kind of confidence boost—and sometimes, even a little armor.”
