Naomi Osaka captivated the French Open crowd with her bold fashion choices this week. The four-time Grand Slam champion arrived on Court Suzanne-Lenglen wearing a ceremonial black skirt and a sleeveless beaded bodice. She then removed the outer layers to reveal a sequined gold playing dress for her opening match against Germany's Laura Siegemund.
Osaka explained that she uses fashion as a form of expression. "I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense," she said. "I talk through my clothes because I'm not very talkative."
The Japanese star defeated Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to advance to the second round. After the match, she joked about her outfit. "When I first saw it, I felt like I look like the Eiffel Tower at night time when it's bright," Osaka said. "Then I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot, so I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court. I got two back-up, normal dresses. Thankfully I didn't have to wear them."
The outer pieces were designed by Kevin Germanier, while the gold dress was created by Nike. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, Osaka made a statement with a wide-brim hat, veil, and white parasol. She also wore a show-stopping outfit at the Met Gala in New York.
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who watched Osaka's entrance on TNT Sports, praised the outfit. "This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident," Sabalenka said. "That's the beauty of the fashion world, there's space for anything and I love that she's bringing it on court."
