Naomi Osaka once again made a bold fashion statement at the French Open, wearing 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.
The Japanese star, known for her love of fashion, had drawn criticism from her first-round opponent Laura Siegemund after wearing a sequined gold dress topped with a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice. Siegemund, who lost 6-3, 7-6, accused Osaka of breaking rules by taking too long to remove the outer layer and prepare for warm-up.
For the clash with Vekic on Court Simonne-Mathieu, 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, who captured photos on their phones before she removed the train and jacket to start the match.
Osaka's Fashion Philosophy
After her first-round win, Osaka explained that the gold dress was inspired by the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. She said, 'Athletes are in show business. Grand slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I'm an entertainer. I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.'
She added that she was initially worried the dress might reflect too much sunlight and be banned, so she brought backup outfits. 'When I first saw it, I felt like I look like the Eiffel Tower at night time when it’s bright. 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.'
Reactions and Match Performance
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who watched Osaka's first-round entrance on TNT Sports, praised the outfit: 'This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident. That’s the beauty of the fashion world, there’s space for anything and I love that she’s bringing it on court.'
Osaka, seeded 16th at Roland Garros, is a four-time grand slam champion but has never advanced past the third round at the French Open. She faced a tough first set against Vekic, a 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist, but won 7-6, comfortably taking the tiebreak 7-1.
