Last week, Nike created a pop-up tennis court in New York City, gathering 11 of the best professional female players, pinning them against some of the youngest female players to celebrate the growth of women in sport for its “Queens of the Court” event. With standout tennis greats such as Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, and more, the cool and sporty fits were aplenty and it was truly the perfect way to jump-start the U.S. Open, the final major tournament for the sport this year.
Tennis-inspired fashion is already having a moment, and when it comes to style inspo, the event was chock full of ideas we’re going to be borrowing come NYFW. Serena, who told the crowd, “Sport has given me a lot of confidence and courage,” rocked a blocked windbreaker with blue biking shorts and colorful sneakers. Naomi, who is set to be the first athlete to wear exclusive NikeCourt x Sacai performance apparel for her upcoming match, looked perfect with a black and white sports bra with matching shorts and two different colored sneakers (!!!)
During the event, we had a chance to speak to a few of the up-and-coming players about the connection between style and sport. Tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, the 21-year-old player from Belarus, says she prefers to wear a dress while playing tennis because you “feel free,” and she likes to embrace her feminine side on the court. Petra Kvitová, a 29-year-old player from the Czech Republic, says, “For me, walking out in my match kit is a bit like putting on a uniform and feeling ready for battle…it definitely gives me a confidence boost.” Kvitová feels lucky to wear “beautiful outfits from Nike,” and as a finishing touch, doesn’t feel ready to play until she has her headband on. While playing the sport, both Aryna and Petra like to keep the makeup light and always wear sunscreen (as they should!).
By working with a brand like Nike, Petra hopes to inspire young girls to pick up tennis rackets and love the sport as much as she does: “I love that Nike is supporting the next generation of tennis players and I hope that I can play a big part.” Aryna says, “I’d like to do something with Nike to inspire young players and be a good inspiration for them.”
We can’t wait to see what other stylish fits all of our favorite female tennis players wear during the U.S. Open. Stay tuned for a slew of tennis-inspired looks on @tvstyle.
