Naomi Osaka's unconventional outfits at Wimbledon have divided opinion among fellow players and pundits. The Japanese star, who reached the quarter-finals after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka, has used the tournament to showcase her unique fashion sense, including a 'Kill Bill' inspired kimono and a white jacket with a long train.
Sabalenka's Support
Aryna Sabalenka, who lost to Osaka in the last 16, expressed admiration for her opponent's daring style. Speaking at the Australian Open in January, where Osaka wore a jellyfish-like ensemble, Sabalenka said: "What's very beautiful about fashion is that you can express yourself however you want. It's a fairly free world. There's no judgement. Some people see fashion one way, others another. That's why it's so beautiful: you can feel free, show who you are, show your personality. I think yesterday, it was perfectly in line with her personality, her culture, many things. It was really cool."
Criticism from Murray and Siegemund
Not everyone shares Sabalenka's enthusiasm. Jamie Murray, the British doubles specialist, was unimpressed, telling the BBC: "It was like Mary Poppins on… I don't know what she was on, but she's on something. I was like, 'What are you doing?'"
Laura Siegemund, who faced Osaka at the French Open, gave a blunt assessment. The German told Eurosport: "I couldn't care less. I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show. And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it." Siegemund also raised concerns about the time Osaka takes to change outfits, saying: "She can have a minute and a half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are - every second is now being watched so closely for us. I don't think it's okay and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently."
Defence from Keothavong
Former British number one Anne Keothavong came to Osaka's defence. Speaking on TNT Sports, she said: "I love her sense of fun. It's not necessarily my style, but that doesn't matter. I love the fact that she has an interest in fashion and she feels confident enough to express herself in that way and I now look forward to her outfits at the Grand Slams. I feel like more players could do that, more brands could get on board and just give players something different to wear. It's a good talking point, it creates headlines, in print and on social. It gets people talking about the sport, about the player, it's win-win. However, saying that, you've also got to be able to deliver on the tennis court and, so far, Naomi Osaka has been able to do that."
Osaka's Inspiration
Osaka, 28, draws inspiration from her multicultural background: a Japanese mother, a Haitian father, and a childhood spent mostly in Florida. She explained: "I feel like my inspiration can be anything. I took a trip to Japan one day [and] then obviously you go to Harajuku (a district of Tokyo famous for fashion), and you see everyone expressing themselves through clothes. I don't really ever have a plan when it comes to clothes. I think it's okay to try something and fail, but I'd rather just try it and see how it goes."
