What would a Grand Slam be without a Naomi Osaka fashion statement? Something would feel amiss.
Today there was nothing missing as Osaka pulled out all the stops with a stunning walk on, the four-time major champion taking to Court 3 in a custom white outfit inspired by Japanese ceremonial dress.
“I like to use fashion as a medium for storytelling,” Osaka told British Vogue in a feature that rolled out in accordance with her 6-1, 7-5 first-round win over Elsa Jacquemot of France. “Every walk-out is an opportunity to bring people into my creative world.
“The fact that people care about it and are excited to see what’s next is also pretty cool.”
Osaka, who had to pull out of Saturday’s Bad Homburg final (her first on grass) with a foot injury, looks to have made a full recovery. She saved nine of ten break points and hit 34 winners to just 15 for her opponent.
The No.14 seed will face either Anastasia Gasanova or Emiliana Arango in the second round.
Here are some details on her look, from Vogue: Embroidered cranes stretch across the fabric. Cherry blossoms climb its surface. A dramatic trailing bow streams behind her, giving the silhouette an almost weightless quality before its layers peel away to reveal the Nike kit beneath. Finished with a traditional kanzashi hair ornament and Mikimoto jewelry, the ensemble transforms the walk from the locker room to the court into a fleeting performance of its own.