Naomi Osaka has issued a strong response to critics who questioned her extravagant walk-on outfits at the US Open. Following her exit from the tournament in the round of 16, Osaka addressed the backlash on Instagram Threads, asserting her indifference to negative opinions.

"You know… idgaf [I don't give a f***] if you don’t like me," Osaka wrote. "I don’t mind being the first to do something and getting trashed for it. This happened when I talked about mental health and for some reason it’s happening with my clothes lol. I’m literally Haitian it’s in my blood to be this way, as long as the people after me have an easier path it’s worth it."

Earlier in the week, Osaka had also posted, "I refuse to be confined by the box you attempt to put me in."

Osaka's US Open campaign concluded with a straight-sets loss to second seed Elena Rybakina. Throughout the tournament, Osaka's bold, custom walk-on designs garnered significant attention and sparked debate on social media. While many praised her striking fashion choices, a segment of fans accused her of allowing her attire to overshadow her performance, particularly after her defeat.

Before her match against Rybakina, Osaka appeared on court in a notable oversized hooded coat lined with faux fur. Following the match, some viewers took to social media to criticize the ensemble, with one user on X writing, "Osaka comes out in a ridiculous coat and gets absolutely smoked in 1st set. Maybe leave the ludicrous bling in the locker room."

Another commenter noted, "Naomi Osaka latest outfit, looks like an oversized fur coat number? Meanwhile her opponent and fellow elite athlete Elena Rybakina entered in her playing outfit, not seeking any attention just here to play a match of tennis."

Rybakina secured the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes. Osaka showed more resistance in the second set, but Rybakina ultimately won 6-4, advancing to the quarterfinals.

In her post-match press conference, Osaka reflected on her perspective regarding tough losses. "I think I'm happy I'm taking losses differently. I'm trying to learn from them a lot more," she said. "Today if I was to say I'm sad, I was sad that I couldn't push off on my foot. I'm sad I couldn't do what I set out to do. But for me, if I think about my life, my daughter is healthy. Everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this Slam. I got as far as I could. It's only up from here I guess."