Naomi Osaka once again made a bold fashion statement at the French Open, donning a metallic gold bomber jacket and an ivory train over her sequined gold playing dress for her second-round match against Donna Vekic at Roland Garros.
Osaka's Outfit Evolution
Osaka, known for her love of fashion, had previously worn a sequined gold playing dress for her first-round clash with Laura Siegemund, topped with a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice. That outfit drew criticism from Siegemund after her defeat, with the German also claiming Osaka was breaking rules by taking too long to remove the outer layer before warming up.
For the second-round encounter, Osaka retained the gold dress but added a metallic gold bomber jacket and an ivory train reminiscent of a wedding dress. She received a warm welcome from fans on Court Simonne-Mathieu, who captured photos on their phones, before removing the train and jacket to start the match.
Match Performance
Osaka faced a tough challenge from Vekic, a 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist, but won the first set in a tiebreak (7-6, 7-1) and took the second set 6-4 to reach the third round. In her post-match interview, Osaka said, 'I like to keep people on my toes. I think it's really fun. 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.'
After her first-round win, Osaka explained the gold dress was inspired by the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. She admitted being worried the umpire might ask her to change due to the sun reflecting off the dress, but she had backup outfits ready. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka praised Osaka's style, saying, 'This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident.'
Historical Context
Osaka, seeded 16th and a four-time grand slam champion, has never advanced past the third round at the French Open. This marks her first time reaching the third round since 2019. She could set a new career-best by beating 17th seed Iva Jovic to reach the second week. 'It means a lot to get this far,' Osaka added. 'Thank you guys for staying and watching the match. I feel so grateful. It's like another milestone.'
