Naomi Osaka still serves up major style on the court, but her shoes at the Australian Open 2022 come with an added sentimental touch. For his big return to tennis from his mental health hiatus in June 2021, the 24-year-old brought a lucky charm in the form of butterfly-themed sneakers. As he faced and ultimately defeated Camila Osorio on Nov. 17 and Madison Brengle on Nov. 19, Osaka wore two different pairs of Nikes with a design that mimics butterfly wings — one orange, the other light blue, pink and purple. The shoes recall the moment a monarch butterfly landed on his leg and face as he faced Tunisian player Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open last year.
In a recent Instagram post, Osaka explained how the winged insect holds deep meaning for her mother. “Her family believed that butterflies carried the souls of our ancestors, and it was definitely one of them like that monarch butterfly that day,” she explained. Given that the defending champion has her own collection of Nike apparel and footwear, we hope the brand eventually releases the sneakers for purchase in the near future, perhaps with even more color choices. Read ahead to zoom in on Osaka’s shoes as she crushes Australian Open competition.
