Naomi Osaka’s new outfit stunned fans; Nadal announces his return to this year’s Australian Open

On Tuesday night, as Naomi Osaka arrived at Rod Laver Arena, she amazed the crowd instantly. She donned a striking Nike-designed outfit—a mint green patchwork dress for the 2026 Australian Open, complemented by pleated white pants, along with a coordinating white hat and sun umbrella, radiating confidence.

This ex-world No.1 has been famous for her bold fashion sense over the years. Last December, she even revived her “Harajuku fantasy” style, but it must be said that this entire look represents her peak fashion statement.

After her first-round match against Antonia Ružić, Osaka quickly removed her hat and trousers, switching to a matching warm-up jacket with the dress. The tie-dye mint green top featured layered pleats on the sleeves, adding a lively touch.

Following warm-ups, Osaka stood at the baseline wearing only the dress, yet even so, she made a striking fashion statement for the season’s first Grand Slam event.

In the men’s tennis world, notable news also emerged—earlier today, TNT Sports announced that Rafael Nadal will return to Melbourne in 2026 to attend the Australian Open’s “Legends Night” event. This celebration will take place on Sunday, February 1st, coinciding with the men’s singles final. Just days after Federer’s first return to Rod Laver Arena since reaching the 2020 Australian Open semifinals, Nadal is set to follow his longtime rival back into the spotlight at the tournament.

This star-studded event will feature Nadal alongside former world No.1 Ashleigh Barty and Australian wheelchair tennis legend Dylan Alcott, offering fans an interactive evening including live talks and photo opportunities.

Kia Arena will be filled with fan engagement activities, live music performances, and close encounters with tennis legends. Fans will also have chances to win great prizes, including tickets to the men’s singles final and an exclusive photo session with two-time Australian Open champion Nadal.

Although Nadal is not returning to competition, he has finally opened up about his true feelings since stepping away from the court. Last month, he appeared on Movistar+’s show “Universo Valdano” for an in-depth conversation with Jorge Valdano, reflecting on his career from a fresh perspective.

He admitted that the adrenaline tennis provides is “irreplaceable,” even though life away from the sport can also be fulfilling and meaningful. In Nadal’s view, the sensations found in competitive sports are nearly impossible to experience elsewhere—“what you find in sports is rarely encountered in other areas.”

Looking back, Nadal clearly stated he has no regrets, “I have no bad memories from that period.” Having rarely missed tournaments over the years, he now understands why, despite the exhausting pace, it’s so hard to stop.

What truly drove the “Big Three” forward was the constant pressure they put on each other. Competing alongside Federer and Djokovic meant there was never a chance to slow down or relax. “We are three, not two, so there’s never any room to ease up,” he said, emphasizing that this rivalry pushed them to maintain the highest standards.

Because of this relentless ambition, Nadal almost never missed events, “You can’t afford to waste tournaments… We always fought to reach the final stages of the most important competitions.” He believes none of the three could have achieved their success without continuously pushing each other.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)