Naomi Osaka had packed plain back-up outfits in case officials objected to her sparkling yellow-brown and gold dress during her French Open first-round clash with Laura Siegemund, but she said she was happy to be able to continue setting the style standard.
The Japanese player raised the fashion stakes in Paris when she walked onto Court Suzanne Lenglen in a black Kevin Germanier skirt, before unveiling her layered yellow-brown and gold Nike match dress.
“When I first saw the match dress in real life, I felt I look like the Eiffel Tower at night, when it’s bright,” Osaka said, shortly after her 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win.
“I actually got a little worried, because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot. So I was a little scared that the umpire was going to kick me off the court.
“So I got two backup normal Nike dresses ... thank God I didn’t have to wear them, though. I thought that the reflection of the dress was really beautiful.”
Osaka, who turned heads with a jellyfish-inspired outfit at the Australian Open this year, said she was embracing being the style icon on the women’s tour in recent years.
“I think in Australia ... the Yoon [Ahn] Ambush dress first started it all off [in 2024]. The US Open, the roses in my hair [last year], that’s when I started to really get into it a lot more,” she added.
“In Australia [this year], it was a real conversation starter. I don’t really feel like it’s a big deal to do that and then play after. I can see where people think I feel a little stressed or whatever. I think that’s the thing about it.
“Sometimes people say athletes are in show business or are entertainers, or whatever. I feel like for me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel I’m an entertainer.”
Osaka said the potential return of style icon and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams to the circuit was something that excited her.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
