The Australian Open has always served when it comes to fashion. This is a tournament where the fits hit almost as hard as the forehands.
For decades, Rod Laver Arena and the iconic tennis players who are taking to the court there have doubled as a fashion spectacle – where baseline battles are fought in pleats, pops of neon, and the occasional outfit that lives rent-free in tennis (and fashion) history.
Back in the 90s, Venus and Serena Williams were already rewriting the dress code, proving performance wear could have personality. But fast-forward a few decades and the tradition of sartorial show-stopping is still alive and thriving, from sleek minimalism to full-blown fashion fantasy. Case in point: Naomi Osaka’s recent jellyfish-inspired ensemble with Nike – equal parts aquatic dream and elite athlete energy.
So we thought, what better a moment to look back through the archives of the Australian Open's best on-court fashion moments from throughout the years. For all the best and most momentous looks, read on...
1. Naomi Osaka (2026)
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Osaka turned heads at her first round match on Tuesday with a jellyfish-inspired outfit, that came complete with a veil, hat and pants. Osaka confirmed she designed the Nike look herself.
2. Serena Williams (2021)
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Williams has long been known for her boundary pushing on-court outfits, and we'll not soon forget this neon pink, asymmetric Nike catsuit she wore during the 2021 Australian Open. This specific outfit was a tribute to the late Olympic track star Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as "Flo-Jo".
3. Coco Gauff (2025)
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Competing in the 2025 Australian Open, Gauff worked with New Balance to design her 'superhero' inspired body suit. In a post-match interview, the player remarked: "This outfit, I'm a huge Marvel fan and a lot of the female superheroes have cool cutouts on their outfits, so that's what I wanted to do."
4. Steffi Graf (1989)
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German tennis player Steffi Graf won the 1989 Women's Singles competition wearing this adidas skirt and polo shirt
5. Aryna Sabalenka (2026)
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Sabalenka's neon, neoprene-look kit was "inspired by the surf" according to her Instagram fit check last week.
6. Martina Hingis (1997)
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The Swiss tennis player took home the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Mary Pierce of France in the Women's Singles Final match in 1997. Hingis wore this matching pleated skirt, top and windbreaker from Italian sportswear brand Sergio Tacchini (Tacchini himself a former professional tennis player).
7. Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971)
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The iconic Wiradjuri Australian tennis legend in her courting whites in 1970 – complete with bloomers and matching white tennis shoes.
8. Chris O'Neill (1978)
Homegrown talent Chris O'Neil donned adidas sneakers and a classic polo and wrap skirt to win the 1978 Australian Open.
9. Jim Courier (1993)
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Courier was one of the top players of the early 1990s and won the Australian Open this year in this Nike 'baseball style' outfit, with vertical stripes and red sleeves, and ultra-short shorts.
10. Andre Agassi (1995)
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Agassi 'the Kid' won the tournament in 1995 in this bandana, baggy short and oversized polo look from Nike. He even has a pair of earrings in. Potentially the most 90s look imagineable.
11. Serena Williams (2014)
Business casual was really taking over everything in 2014 – including Serena Williams' ensemble from Nike, complete with hot pink blazer.
12. Venus and Serena Williams (1998)
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1998 saw the Williams sisters play off for the first time as professionals at the Australian Open, Venus in a blue and white Reebok dress and matching hair beads, while Serena donned a Puma red, black and white two-piece and green-and-yellow hair beads.
