Naomi Osaka serves sparkles, style alongside ‘Billie Jean Bling’ Labubu at the US Open 2025

Naomi Osaka couldn’t have asked for a better start to her US Open 2025 campaign. Under the bright New York lights, the former world number one cruised past Belgium’s Greet Minnen in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. But while her tennis was sharp, it was her outfit and an unlikely courtside companion, that truly set Flushing Meadows abuzz. Yes, we are talking about her glitter-dusted ponytail, her bold red ensemble, and the now-famous Labubu doll she proudly introduced to the world.

Osaka has never been one to shy away from making a statement on court, and this time her Nike look was months in the making. She stepped out in a red sparkle-detailed outfit, complete with a bubble-hem skirt and cropped jacket, perfectly coordinated with red roses in her ponytail, each petal glistening under the lights. But the pièce de résistance? A sparkly Labubu figurine she’s christened Billie Jean Bling, a cheeky nod to tennis icon Billie Jean King. “I just thought it would be really fun to do a New York under the lights,” she later said, clearly relishing her style moment as much as her win.

If you thought the doll was just a cute prop, think again. Osaka carried it with the confidence of someone toting a high-fashion handbag at the Met Gala. During her post-match interview, when asked if there was anything the audience “shouldn’t miss,” she held it up with pride. “This is my Labubu. She’s named Billie Jean Bling. Not Billie Jean King,” she clarified, sending the crowd into laughter. And just like that, Billie Jean Bling became an overnight social media star.

Osaka revealed this was her “night outfit” something she’d been saving for the right moment. “I’m glad my first match was a night match, because this outfit was really fun to play in,” she said. That comment alone shows how much the Japanese star enjoys curating her court style. It’s a reminder that tennis fashion has evolved beyond crisp whites and pleated skirts, in Osaka’s world, it’s about storytelling, personality, and a little (or a lot) of shimmer.

Of course, it’s not just about the clothes. Osaka’s win moves her into the second round, where she’ll face hometown favourite Hailey Baptiste. Seeded 23, she’s on a mission to reclaim her former glory and end a Grand Slam drought stretching back to her 2021 Australian Open triumph. But for now, she’s got momentum, a killer outfit, and Billie Jean Bling riding shotgun and honestly, that’s one power trio worth watching.