Fashion aces from the 2020 US Open

By Jonathan ScottPublished September 07, 2020

It's a different year for tennis fashion in Flushing. Style stalwarts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did not make the trek, nor did six of the top 10 WTA stars. They all had their reasons—knee-surgery rehab (Fed), COVID-19 considerations (quite a few), and prep for the delayed-from-May clay-court season (Simona Halep, Nadal and more).

In their absences, not just the pathways toward the titles opened up, but so, too, did the opportunity to make a sartorial statement. They'll happily vie for the former, and if the latter happens in the making, so be it. As to the wardrobe winners, let's get to it:

Best Mask: Style Speaks to the Moment

At the outset, considerations of the moments of social solidarity that athletes and other public figures are stringing together in these days. Naomi Osaka stood out for stark stances on the subject of the Black Lives Matter movement. She came to Queens with seven names on seven masks, for seven matches she aims to play. Whoever one's favorite pro is, you may find yourself glad for her to make the final.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: Naomi Osaka of Japan walks in wearing a mask with the name Elijah McClain on it before her Women’s Singles second round match against Camila Giorgi of Italy on Day Three of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. McClain died in a hospital after being placed in a carotid hold by police and injected with ketamine by paramedics in Aurora, Colorado on August 30, 2019. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Best-of-the-Rest Mask

Apart from societal-equity statements, the best PPE fashion appeared on Venus Williams' visage, as she sported a Wonder Woman mask before and after falling in the first round to Karolina Muchova. After out-hitting Victoria Azarenka two weeks ago at the Top Seed Open, Venus couldn't mask some inconsistencies against an in-form foe who played with margin. Still, she reminded us all to have bated breath for the pandemic-delayed Wonder Woman 1984 film.

Venus Williams, of the United States, leaves after her match with Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in New York. Muchova won the match. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Best in Shoe: Kicking It New-School

In a Nike x Comme de Garcon collab, Osaka will have a new shoe drop in November. (See the fourth image here.) Before that, she revealed fresh treads in New York, on down to the "Home Is Where the Heart Is" text treatment and the flourish of her own signature.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Detail of the shoes worn by Naomi Osaka of Japan during her Women’s Singles first round match against Misaki Doi of Japan on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Best Follicles: Hair Apparent

Jeffrey John aka JJ Wolf won this tournament's mane draw, that's for sure. Looking like a 1986 grinder stepped into 2020, he made waves in the US Open hair game, and on Twitter. His look, from Lotto, was a no-no compared to what some thought he should've been decked out in for a multi-match run with flair.

J.J. Wolf, of the United States, returns a shot to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

With all due respect to Lotto, how is J.J. Wolf not wearing the 1990 Agassi-inspired NikeCourt collection... pic.twitter.com/Ek0s94Fuf0
— Ed McGrogan (@EdMcGrogan) September 5, 2020

In an Asics dress that flattered her form and forehand blasts both, Jennifer Brady sashayed into the second week in a simple, minty delight. Not quite an empire waist, but certainly an Empire State of Mind.

Jennifer Brady, of the United States, reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber, of Germany, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

With clean, stately lines, Roberto Bautista Agut and Daniil Medevedev rocked color-blocked variations of the same Lacoste polo, which classed it up compared to the erratic print on another star's collared kit from the same maker.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain returns a volley during his Men’s Singles first round match against Tennys Sandgren of the United States on Day Two of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns a shot to Federico Delbonis, of Argentina, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Somehow Adidas and Nike both came to New York with pink-meets-red palettes, but this Angelique Kerber number from Adidas came away pristine, even if she fell to Brady.

Angelique Kerber, of Germany, returns a shot to Ann Li, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

In a Diadora tee, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and others, including Jan-Lennard Struff, looked young and fun in shades of green and a retro vibe.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, of Spain, reacts after defeating Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

Indeed, we need to talk about Nike here. The 1990s homage, with some players drumming up Andre Agassi's flashy image of the era, seemed to work best (or only) on those who were barely or not yet alive for it. Namely: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, and Amanda Anisimova. They won out in the look when they broke up the biker shorts underneath with solid-hued shorts.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, returns a shot to Andy Murray, of Great Britain, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, returns a shot to Salvatore Caruso, of Italy, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, returns a shot to Katrina Scott, of the United States, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

Borna Coric impressed in his five-set takedown of Stefanos Tsitsipas, and outside of that, a spunky, teal-and-orange T-shirt from Asics carried the night.

Borna Coric, of Croatia, returns a shot to Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Like one of her heroes, Venus Williams, she didn't make it out of round 1, but Coco Gauff illuminated this event with a lovely flourescent-meets-burnt orange frock by New Balance. It came accented by silvery polka dots on the skirting.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Cori Gauff of the United States celebrates winning the second set during her Women's Singles first round match against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Best Dressed: WTA

Cue the Kid Cudi, as day and night, Naomi Osaka appeared the epitome of a star in her Nike kits, from primary colors that summoned up her 2017 look for Adidas to the striking nighttime glow of fluorescent green married with regal purple and black. Unrivaled colorways in this event, to be determined whether unrivaled in the match outcomes. (One minor bit of umbrage: those fantastic shoes clashing with the night-session kit.)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a shot to Camila Giorgi, of Italy, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts during a match against Marta Kostyuk, of the Ukraine, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

Best Dressed: ATP

Stefanos Tsitsipas fell out in five hours to Coric, and it's unclear quite how his ankle doesn't break at times (see: this shot), but his Adidas kit's pink inflections overpowered the uninspired design on a gray top, which looks like oh-so-many tennis tees since 1998.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, returns a shot to Borna Coric, of Croatia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Nevertheless, she persisted—in Nike. Vying for her first major title since bringing beautiful Olympia into the world (3 years old as of this event), Serena Williams donned a lovely red dress with draped skirting. The real stunners of her attire are those shoes, an eye-grabbing, red-maroon merger.

Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Sloane Stephens, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — © AP

Fila did Aussie Open champ Sofia Kenin right. Margarita Gasparyansported a clean, crisp version in all-navy, though Kenin's green skirt and shoes made the look pop. They also anti-aged her. She became an unexpected major winner in January, but Kenin's still just 21.

Sofia Kenin, of the United States, returns a shot to Ons Jabeur, of Tunisia, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

It may go down as one of the more sedate fashion fortnights in major tennis history. If so, that suits this muted year overall. Even so, a few players flew off the rack and into the memories of many a tennis clotheshorse.