Naomi Osaka is not letting anyone ruin her fashion era at the French Open. Not even her opponents.
© GettyThe four-time Grand Slam champion has basically transformed Roland-Garros into her own couture runway this week, showing up to matches in dramatic custom looks complete with sequins, trains, layered dresses, and enough sparkle to compete with the Eiffel Tower itself.
© GettyIt’s gotten the attention of fans and her opponents. Following Naomi’s first-round win over German player Laura Siegemund, the tennis veteran made it very clear she was not impressed by Osaka’s increasingly theatrical walk-ons.
© Getty“I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show,” Siegemund said after losing to Osaka, later adding that she “couldn’t care less” about the outfits. She also complained that Osaka taking time to change before matches was “problematic,” suggesting bigger stars are treated differently when it comes to tournament rules.
© GettyBut if Naomi was bothered by the comments, you absolutely could not tell from her next entrance. Instead of toning things down, the tennis star arrived at her second-round match against Donna Vekic in another elaborate couture-inspired look, this time wearing a dramatic white floor-length train over her match outfit like she was heading to the Met Gala with a racket in hand.
© Getty“I like to keep people on their toes. I think it’s really fun,” Osaka said after the match. “There's a community that I feel like has been built over my on-court outfits, so I just like to keep you guys guessing.”
And Osaka has clearly been having fun with it. Earlier in the tournament, she wore a layered gold-and-brown dress with a sequined waistcoat blouse and black mesh train that immediately went viral online. The athlete joked that when she first saw the shimmering outfit, she thought she looked “like the Eiffel Tower at nighttime when it’s bright.”
© Jean Catuffe“Then I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot,” she admitted. “I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court.”
Thankfully for fashion lovers everywhere, that did not happen. And while Siegemund may not be interested in Naomi’s couture courtside era, other players have been fully supportive. Aryna Sabalenka praised the looks, saying, “This is sparkling. I love it,” while Donna Vekic defended the outfits too, telling critics, "Some people take tennis way too seriously. Just relax. It's just an outfit. It's no big deal. She has an opportunity to do that, so why not?"
© GettyOsaka herself seems fully aware that her entrances are becoming part of the spectacle. “Athletes are in show business,” she explained. “Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer.”
Tennis has always had its fashion icons, from Serena Williams’ catsuits to Maria Sharapova’s luxury partnerships.
© GettyThis also isn’t new for her. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, she arrived wearing a wide-brim hat, veil, and carrying a white parasol. At last year’s US Open, she wore sparkly red roses in her ponytail and even accessorized with a matching Labubu named “Billie Jean Bling.”
© Robert PrangeMeanwhile, Osaka is still very much backing up the fashion moments with actual tennis. After battling past Vekic in straight sets, she officially reached the third round at Roland-Garros for the first time since 2019.
Next up, on May 30, Osaka will face American player Iva Jovic after the 17-year-old stunned Emma Navarro in a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory.
