Reigning US Open champion, her sister, Mari Osaka, and BodyArmor revitalize the public courts where the sisters grew up playing.
Reigning champion Naomi Osaka has lit up Queens before launching her US Open defense.

The four-time Grand Slam champion returned to her roots today—the tennis courts at Detective Keith L. Williams Park in Jamaica, Queens where she and her older sister, Mari Osaka, grew up playing—to deliver a major makeover for the tennis community.

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Osaka, her sister Mari Osaka and BodyArmor Lyte refurbished the tennis court facilities as a way to bring its US Open partnership to life beyond the tournament and inspire young athletes in the local Queens community where Osaka got her start.

In addition to a complete overhaul of the actual tennis facilities, BodyArmor collaborated with Mari Osaka on the development of a bold artwork bordering the courts that incorporates colors and symbols that are meaningful to the tennis champion. To bring Naomi and Mari’s creative vision to life, BodyArmor tapped New York graffiti artist, Mast, who helped embody the vibrant spirit of the community.

“I’ve seen first-hand how playing sports can have a positive impact on kid’s lives,” said Naomi Osaka. “It’s been extremely gratifying to collaborate with BodyArmor on revitalizing the very same tennis courts that I grew up playing on.

"And the fact that BodyArmor is also a Queens based company makes this initiative even cooler and more meaningful to me. The update to these courts means so much—local high schools use these for practice and competitions, the community comes here to play—the benefits will be long lasting.”

Born in Osaka, Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, Osaka's first Grand Slam experience came as a kid growing up in Valley Stream, New York attending the US Open.

"I remember hitting on these courts a lot so I actually recognize a lot of people that came out here today," Osaka said. "It's really nice to see you guys. 

"Just to see the courts kind of new and different from how I grew up, it's really amazing to see. I just really love this neighborhood when I was a kid. We used to have so many adventures, me and my sister. For me, just revisiting here and wanting to build up and do better for the community was very important for both of us."

 

 

 

 

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To officially unveil the new courts, BodyArmor partnered with Naomi Osaka’s foundation, Play Academy, to host “LYTE Up the Courts” a youth tennis clinic featuring participants from New York-based tennis organizations.

On a sticky summer day in Queens, the kids participated in several drills working on groundstrokes, volleys and serves as well as playing games. Osaka hit, offered some tips and chatted with community kids today during the official unveiling of the courts.

"While you're playing have love for the sport," Osaka told the kids. "And even if you're not playing just want to be a better you."

"Through our partnership with Naomi Osaka, BodyArmor has been able to give back to the Queens community, which holds a special place in our hearts,” said Michael Fedele, Vice President of Marketing at BodyArmor. “Being able to support this project is much bigger than the renovation itself. With the new courts, we’re not only able to provide an upgraded facility for the next generation of tennis players, we’re also investing in the future of the community we call home.”

In 2020, BodyArmor Lyte announced its multi-year partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) which named BodyArmor Lyte as the Official Sports Drink of the US Open Tennis Championships.

Photo credit: BodyArmor

To celebrate its 110th anniversary, Fila will make a Flushing Meadows fashion statement.
Fila will celebrate its anniversary with a US Open blues festival.

To honor the 110th anniversary of the brand, Fila will release two all-new collections to be worn on court by select sponsored tennis players at the final Grand Slam of the season. Blue is a primary power color for both collections.

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World No. 1 Ash Barty and Americans John Isner, Reilly Opelka and Sam Querrey will don the exclusive 110 Year Collection, while Fila sponsored athletes Sofia Kenin, Karolina Pliskova and Diego Schwartzman will sport the new Wildcard Collection in New York City. 

The 110 Year Collection celebrates the brand’s signature style with fashion-forward designs inspired by sketches from the Fila archives. The classic line features a color palette of Fila Navy / White / Marina Blue, harkening back to the brand’s roots in tennis, which includes some of the most iconic and recognizable styles in history. This limited-edition collection combines the vintage styles of the brand’s rich tennis heritage with complementary silhouettes in today’s performance fabrics, perfectly suited to allow Fila-sponsored athletes to be at their best on court in New York this summer.

The collection offers a variety of Fila's most popular styles, with the Racerback Tank and Short Sleeve Polo for women, each paired with the A-Line Skort, along with a flattering and timeless 110 Year Dress. Isner, Opelka and Querrey will choose from a classic Short Sleeve Crew with chest-level horizontal striping or the similarly-styled Short Sleeve Polo, each offered in the collection’s primary colors of navy, white and marina blue. The Signature Stripe Polo is destined to become the latest in a long line of iconic Fila on-court styles, paired with the classic navy Stretch Woven Short.

Both the men and women will round out the 110 Year Collection with the iconic Fila French Terry jacket featuring the heritage signature stripe side panel and rib knit stripe detailing at the collar, cuffs and button band. This vintage piece is instantly recognizable as one of the most iconic looks in the brand’s history, paying homage to Fila's role as a pioneer and an innovator in tennis fashion, which included bringing color to the traditionally white-clad world of tennis. A French Terry track pant will complete the collection.

All pieces in the 110 Year Collection feature a special Fila x 110 Anniversary logo, including three upgraded footwear styles that are ready to play both on and off the court. Each Fila sponsored athlete wearing the 110 Year Collection in New York City will sport a marina / fila navy / white style of the Axilus 2 Energized, Fila's leading performance tennis shoe. Also included in the collection will be the Tennis 88 street sneaker and Drifter Lux slide.

Wildcard Collection

Kenin, Pliskova and Schwartzman will make their own fashion statement on court when they introduce the Wildcard Collection, featuring modern takes on styles of the past with a mystifying color palette of rattan / dusk blue / stucco / black and moonlight.

Kenin and Pliskova will select from a range of styles and silhouettes, including a classic Racerback Tank in three distinct color styles; a High Neck Racerback Tank with delicately printed front and back yoke; a Full Coverage Tank featuring contrast color piping detail with flatlock stitching at front and back; and a Short Sleeve Top with mesmerizing printed side panels under the arm. Players can pair any of the top options back to one of three distinct skort options: the 12.5 inch Side Wrap Skort, with a printed undershort and offered in dusk blue / moonlight / black; the 13.5 inch Flirt Skort, with contrast color piping and a rubber Fila tennis ball logo; and the 14.5 inch Scoop Skort, offered in black / rattan / dusk blue. 

Schwartzman and fellow FILA sponsored ATP Tour players will debut offerings from the men’s Wildcard drop in a tantalizing color palette of white / muskmelon / dusk blue / stucco / black and moonlight. Standouts of the collection include three top options: the Short Sleeve Crew, the Short Sleeve Polo and the Contrast Polo.  Each specially designed option can be paired back to the all-new Short, built on dense stretch woven fabric and available in white, black or dusk blue plaid.

Fila sponsored athletes wearing the Wildcard collection will also debut two limited-edition styles of the Axilus 2 Energized. WTA Tour players will wear a white / black / stucco style while ATP Tour players will vie for Grand Slam glory in a statement-making stucco / muskmelon / white style.

Photo credit: Fila