Osaka’s Roland Garros Fashion Flourishes Amidst Tournament Exit
Naomi Osaka, the tennis star known for pushing boundaries both on and off the court, once again captivated audiences at Roland Garros with her distinctive pre-match attire. Despite her eventual departure from the tournament, Osaka’s presence was marked by a series of eye-catching outfits, transforming her Grand Slam appearances into a veritable fashion spectacle.
Her latest sartorial statement came during the evening session, where she sported a dazzling gold sequinned jacket and skirt ensemble, seemingly an extension of her custom Nike “Eiffel Tower” dress. This “co-ord,” a matching two-piece set, added a layer of glamour to her fourth-round clash against Aryna Sabalenka. This match itself was a historic moment, being the first women’s singles match to be played in the night session at the French Open in three years.
Osaka’s flair for dramatic entrances wasn’t limited to this match. In the preceding rounds, she had already made waves with elaborate trains attached to her Nike outfits. For her second-round match, she opted for an ivory train, followed by a deeper coffee-hued train for her third-round encounter. Each appearance was accompanied by a unique warm-up jacket, showcasing a keen eye for design and a desire to express herself through fashion. The official Roland Garros social media account even lauded her presence, posting a video of her “striding on to court” with the caption, “Shining, as always.”
However, Osaka’s fashion-forward approach wasn’t universally applauded. Her first-round opponent, Laura Siegemund, publicly questioned her intentions, stating, “I came here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show.” Siegemund’s sentiments, while expressing a preference for a more traditional focus on the sport, were met with a contrasting view from other players. Donna Vekic, whom Osaka had defeated in the second round, offered a more relaxed perspective: “Some people take tennis way too seriously. Relax, it’s just an outfit. I think it’s good that she’s doing different things, expressing herself through fashion.”
The origins of Osaka’s unique ensembles lie in a collaboration with couturier Kevin Garmanier. For her opening match, Osaka unveiled a striking black corset and matching skirt crafted from upcycled materials. This innovative design saw her old Nike competition outfits deconstructed and reimagined. The pleated black skirt was fashioned from the inner layers of a jacket, while previous tennis skirts and dresses were repurposed, all adorned with hundreds of hand-applied crystals.
Osaka herself acknowledged the artistic merit and personal enjoyment derived from these creations. She admitted to bringing backup dresses, expressing a slight concern that her dazzling gold outfit might inadvertently blind spectators. Describing her “Eiffel Tower” dress, she remarked, “When I first saw the dress in real life, I felt like I looked like the Eiffel Tower at night-time when it’s sparkling.” She even playfully worried about the umpire potentially removing her from the court due to the dress’s reflective properties in sunlight.
Osaka sees her Grand Slam walk-ons as a unique opportunity to embrace an “entertainer” persona. She enjoys keeping her fans guessing about her next outfit, fostering a sense of community around her on-court fashion choices. “I just like to keep people on their toes. I think it’s really fun,” she stated.
While Osaka’s fashion statements garnered significant attention, her performance in the tournament concluded in the fourth round. She was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka in a hard-fought match that lasted one hour and 27 minutes, with a final score of 7-5, 6-3. Sabalenka’s powerful serve proved to be the decisive factor, with the world No. 1 hitting 12 aces and losing only six points on her first serve throughout the encounter.
Sabalenka, who herself sported a notable jewellery ensemble worth an estimated £75,000 – two diamond and garnet necklaces and matching earrings – acknowledged Osaka’s skill. “Naomi is such a great player and played some aggressive tennis,” Sabalenka commented after the match. “It was a very tough one but it is amazing to play the night session in front of you all.”
The match between Osaka and Sabalenka also highlighted the evolving landscape of women’s participation in prime-time slots at Roland Garros. Prior to this encounter, only a small fraction of the night sessions had been allocated to women’s matches, and none had featured in the last 32 rounds of the tournament for some time. This scarcity was so pronounced that the on-court interviewer, Fabrice Santoro, even questioned Sabalenka about it being her “first night session here at Roland Garros,” a testament to its rarity.
Despite her early exit, Naomi Osaka’s Roland Garros campaign will be remembered not just for her tennis but also for her bold and imaginative fashion choices, which added a unique dimension to the prestigious tournament. Her ability to blend athletic prowess with personal expression continues to resonate with fans and fellow players alike, even as the competitive nature of Grand Slam tennis remains paramount.
